|
By Jonel Martinez
On August 6, we drove up to the electronic gate in the 12-foot
high, razor-wire fence that surrounds the Home for Women
and Children. This is the shelter in Shiprock, New Mexico,
for homeless Navajo women and their children who are victims
of domestic violence. This facility is for victims—abused
women and children—yet it looks like a prison. By
the time the lump in my throat cleared and the tears in
my eyes dried, the three truckloads of VVA and AVVA members
had parked and we approached the door of the trailer office.
We
were met by happy strangers. The female workers at the
shelter greeted us with much kindness. They introduced
themselves while the men unloaded the trucks. Then these
women helped us separate and allocate hundreds of gift
items. The gifts were placed in large plastic bags; on
each bag was written the name of one of the children; then
the bags were hidden in a side office.
Next, the personal
hygiene bags and laundry baskets were filled with extra donations;
then they, too, were hidden. We stuffed all of the backpacks
with crayons, colored pencils, writing tablets, and other
supplies appropriate for pre-school and early school-aged
children; these also joined the secret presents. Had it not
been for the help of the shelter workers, we would have spent
hours just separating the many gifts. I regretted not having
gifts for the staff to show them how much they were appreciated.
Two
women had ordered ten pizzas for lunch. I caught Les Ryan
at the door handing them a $100 bill, his own money. I stopped
him. Reluctantly, he allowed AVVA Chapter 106 to pay for
half of the pizzas.
A group of adorable, smiling children
walked into the room. Each greeted us with a hello and a
handshake. Some shared hugs with us. Real tight, glad-to-meet-you
hugs. After everything they had been through in their young
lives, they seemed untouched by the abuse that had brought
them into this high-security shelter.
We watched the seven mothers lead their little ones to the
table loaded with pizza, salad, and desserts. Plates filled
quickly. Just before they began to eat, Grandma Klara offered
a Navajo prayer. I didn’t understand a word, but I
knew we all favored the same God. The children ate at a large
round table.
We noticed that two mothers holding infants didn’t
have plates. I asked if they would allow us to hold their
babies. They quickly handed the babies to us, filled their
plates, and went to another area to eat so they could have
a real lunch break.
After lunch, the table was cleared. The women of the shelter
sat with their infants at the table, and the eleven little
ones sat on the carpet waiting, not knowing what was next.
I’ve been helping people all of my life, and I can’t
recall ever helping so many children at once. One of the
advocates at the shelter brought out the large bags of presents.
As soon as names were called out, one by one each child’s
face lit up even brighter.
The children excitedly ripped open
the bags. They held up the gifts and called to their moms.
The mothers were pleased and thankful. A few children put
on their backpacks and marched around the room singing, “I’m
going to school!” Then
the mothers were taken by surprise with full laundry baskets
for their families.
We had been there nearly four hours. The
children were due for naps and quiet time. The little ones
lined up and wished us good-bye. We told them we loved them
and we would see them again. The children gave us handmade
thank-you cards decorated with their handprints. I was very
proud of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, Arizona,
proud indeed.
AVVA Chapter 432 donated the backpacks with
some school supplies and the laundry baskets with personal
hygiene bags. The brownies were baked by Laura Bargfeld.
Lynn and Bill Wesp donated clothing, books, action figures,
cookies, and crackers. AVVA Chapter 106, with my husband
Frank Martinez and myself, donated pre-K to second-grade
supplies (colored pencils, crayons, and handwriting tablets),
toys for all ages, books, art/crafts supplies, a pink sit-in
toddler car, half of the pizza and beverages, cupcakes for
the party, and staples for the shelter. AVVA 106 member Jade
Brown donated twenty stuffed animals. Arizona AVVA donated
seven $20 Walmart gift cards. Les Ryan donated stuffed animals,
diapers, markers, handwriting tablets, coloring books, activity
books, crayons, pencils and pens, paper, cases of food for
the shelter, and half the cost of the pizza.
|
©2006-
2011, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910