Scottsdale, Arizona May 7, 2020 (Issuewire.com) - Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation and Blok Industries Deliver
Hazmat Suits to Aid COVID-19-Pummeled Navajo and Hopi Tribes
Arizona Nonprofit Partners with Georgia Safety and Disaster Relief Supplier to Combat Coronavirus Pandemic
Late April Hazmat suits were delivered to one of the hardest-hit areas, the Hopi and Navajo reservations in Arizona. The Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation partnered with Blok Industries, who donated 20,000 Hazmat Suits to aid and protect first responders from COVID-19-that has hit the Navajo and Hopi reservation. These reservations are third to New York and New Jersey in the nation and declared COVID-19 Hot Spots.
Alison Goldwater Ross, the granddaughter to U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater, founded the Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation, a nonprofit corporation qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, in 2017. Its mission is to digitize, curate, restore, preserve, and showcase Goldwater’s extensive collection of 15,000 negatives and 25 miles of motion picture film most of Arizona’s native people and landscapes. Ross redirected the efforts of the Foundation to provide aid to the Hopi and Navajo tribes. “There was no question in my mind that we needed to do everything in our power to assist by providing PPE and other supplies. We are reaching out for help so we can continue our work to save lives and get the supplies directly to people in need. We set up a Relief Fund for people to donate https://goldwaterfoundation.org/covid-19-relief-mission/" stated Ross.
The Foundation’s efforts have been made possible by Blok Industries, a safety and disaster relief supplier headquartered in Gainesville, Ga. Ross’s husband and legal counsel for Blok, Robert Arkin connected Ross with Karen Davidson, Blok’s President. When Davidson learned of the reservation’s casualty count eclipsing that of states with much larger populations without a corresponding influx of aid, she sprang into action. “I knew this was something we had to do,” Davidson said. “We at Blok couldn’t stand by knowing the urgent need when we could make the hazmat suits available immediately.”
The Foundation worked with Blok to pick up in Mobile, Ala, and drive to the reservations in Northern Arizona to distribute to Gallup, New Mexico where suits were distributed to Navajo Area Indian Health Services (NAIHS) servicing five NAIHS hospitals. The next stop was the Navajo Division of Public Safety in Window Rock, AZ, to provide suits for police, correction officers, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics.
Hope MacDonald-LoneTree, former Navajo Nation Presidential candidate, 2-term Navajo Nation Councilwoman (ToNaneesDizi/Coalmine Canyon), and daughter of past Navajo Chairman Peter MacDonald, and Ross worked on all the delivery logistics. LoneTree's father, Peter MacDonald and Goldwater have a long personal history and friendship “Because of this relationship, Hope was the first person I reached out to when we secured the suit donation from Blok” says Alison
As the first delivery of Hazmat suits to Arizona Lone Tree states, “My heart has been heavy for the past couple of weeks because many friends and family have been affected by the pandemic. We have lost too many people and our public health and public safety services were not equipped to address the problems we are experiencing in such a crisis. The generous and heartfelt donation by Blok Industries and the Goldwater Foundation has been a godsend. Our public health workers and public safety personnel can now be protected and feel more confident about returning home after their tour of duty. Many families will be very thankful that their loved ones who are on the frontlines will be taken care of with these hazmat suits. On behalf of my family who has been longtime friends with the late Senator Barry Goldwater, we are ever so grateful to the Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation and Blok Industries for their kindness and generosity."
The last delivery went to Hopi Veterans Memorial Center for delivery to first responders through the Hopi Emergency Response Team (HERT) Incident Command Center in Kykotsmovi, AZ. The Hopi Tribe’s COVID-19 Emergency Response covers all Hopi villages and communities including First Mesa (Walpi, Sichomovi, Tewa), Second Mesa (Mishongnovi, Shipaulovi, Shungopavi), Third Mesa (Old Orabi, Hotevilla, Bacavi) and the most eastern villages of Upper and Lower Moencopi near Tuba City, AZ.
Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma stated, “We are very grateful to the Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation for reaching out to Blok Industries on behalf of the Hopi community to provide PPE supplies and hazmat suits for our first responders. With this donation, I know our first responders can find some peace of mind when responding to calls, that, in many cases, present unknown hazards. I can also imagine that our Hopi first responders find some comfort with this donation since these types of supplies are in high demand and not readily available. In these uncertain times, it’s very important to continue to nurture relationships like that of the Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation. We appreciate their unwavering support and acknowledge their sincere efforts to help protect our Hopi-Tewa people. We gladly embrace positive support for the Hopi Tribe. Our hats off to Blok Industries, Alison Goldwater for facilitating the contribution to our fight against COVID-19. Kwa-kwah.”
Ross stated, “It’s been a group effort involving people who feel for this project and want to help Navajo and Hopi people. We need to remember that these tribes are small in numbers, and to lose this culture would be devastating. My grandfather had a deep love for Arizona and the indigenous people. He would provide supplies of all kinds; there was a critical need. Our actions are not only responsible for taking care of humankind but honors 'Barry's legacy of service to the people of Arizona.”
About Blok Industries Inc.: Headquartered in Gainesville, Ga., Blok Industries is a supplier of safety and disaster relief products. Visit www.blokindustriesinc.com.
About Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation: Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., The Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation is a nonprofit corporation qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and founded in 2017 by Alison Goldwater Ross, the Foundation’s Executive Director and the granddaughter of its namesakes. The mission of the Foundation is to preserve history for future generations by protecting, restoring, curating, restoring, and showcasing historical collections of photographs, motion film, and documentation. Visit www.goldwaterfoundation.org.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.inlineco.com/seen/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/440145.jpg.
Media Contact:
Alison Goldwater Ross
Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation
1-404-550-9459
aligoldwater@goldwaterfoundation.org
Media Contact
Barry & Peggy Goldwater Foundation aligoldwater@goldwaterfoundation.org 4045509459 6226 n cattle track, 1444 http://www.goldwaterfoundation.org
