Food & Supply Response Project | Society of Native Nations

Community Support Project: Food & Supply Response Project

The Emergency Community Response Program began in March 2020, created to meet the urgent needs of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as an immediate response to crisis has grown into a continuing commitment, as the needs of our people remain and, in many cases, have deepened.

This program serves our wisdom keepers, elders, unhoused relatives, and community members living with health challenges. It also supports families facing poverty, food insecurity, and ongoing displacement. By working together, we ensure that no one is left behind.

Our response is rooted in cultural values of care, respect, and reciprocity. It is not only about meeting urgent needs, but also about strengthening community resilience and honoring our responsibilities to one another.

We focus on four key priorities:

Caring for Elders and Wisdom Keepers – ensuring they receive the respect, resources, and protection they deserve.
Supporting Unhoused and Vulnerable Relatives – providing essential supplies, safe connections, and consistent care.
Access to Food, Water, and Essentials – distributing healthy foods, clean water, and emergency items to families in need.
Building Mutual Aid Networks – fostering intergenerational support and long-term community resilience.

Rooted in cultural values of respect, reciprocity, and responsibility, this program is not only about meeting urgent needs but about creating pathways of care, healing, and resilience. Each action—whether it’s delivering a food box, checking on an elder, or providing clean water—carries forward the teachings of our ancestors: that we are all connected, and caring for one another ensures the survival of our people and the well-being of future generations.

The Emergency Community Response Program continues because the need continues. Together, we are building pathways of care and solidarity that keep our communities strong, safe, and connected.

When we lift each other up, we honor our ancestors, protect our present, and safeguard the generations to come.

Short term Goals:
Provide consistent access to healthy food, clean water, and emergency supplies for elders, unhoused relatives, and families in need.

Expand volunteer and mutual aid networks to increase community capacity during times of crisis.

Strengthen outreach and communication to ensure vulnerable community members are not overlooked.

Host seasonal drives (food, blankets, hygiene kits) to meet immediate needs throughout the year.

Document impact through stories, testimonies, and data to improve services and highlight community resilience.
Long term Goals:
Establish permanent community hubs for emergency preparedness, resource distribution, and cultural support.

Develop sustainable food systems (gardens, traditional food sovereignty projects) that reduce reliance on outside aid.

Train youth and community members in emergency response skills, building intergenerational resilience.

Create partnerships with local organizations, tribal communities, and allies to strengthen resources and advocacy.

Build a self-sustaining program model that not only responds to crises but proactively prevents harm and nurtures long-term community well-being.