The Food Runs to Dilkon and Leupp - Early History

by John Aldrich, utilizing information provided by Ann Voda and Carol Ashton. Historic photos by Ann and Carol.

In two prior posts I tried to provide an overview of the food runs to Dilkon and Leupp. These included a bit of the history of those food runs. Subsequently Ann Voda and Carol Ashton have provided some additional details about those early years. Ann and Carol were a part of the original small group of volunteers that initiated these food runs.

The initial planning for these runs took place at a meeting in Winslow in May of 1999 that included Linda Myers, Cyndy Sheldon, Eunice Spencer, Louise Walker, Ann Voda, and Carol Ashton. Cyndy was a social worker at the Indian Health Service facility in Winslow and felt that the elderly population at both Dilkon and Leupp was in need of basic care and comfort items. Working with Eunice Spencer at Dilkon and Lorraine Walker at Leupp, a group of needy Elders greater than 70 years of age was identified and enrolled into the Program.

To keep the logistics simple, the Elders received $50 food certificates for Bashas supermarkets rather than food boxes at these initial food runs. There is a Bashas market located in Dilkon, and Winslow, a border town not far away, had one as well at the time. In addition to food certificates, Elders also received utility buckets filled with a variety of giveaway items that would be of assistance to their personal health and comfort.

In March of 2000 the first food runs took place. At Dilkon the meeting was held at the First Church Of The Nazarene, and at Leupp it took place at the local Chapter House. The group of volunteers that participated in this occasion were Linda Myers, Ann Voda, Carol Ashton, Sarah Sifers, Cyndy Sheldon, and Pearl Towne.

This photo, taken at the first Dilkon food run, shows Ann distributing items to the utility buckets that will be given to each of the Elders.

In September of 2000 the second food run to these locations took place and included these volunteers: Linda Myers, Ann Voda, Carol Ashton, Cyndy Sheldon, Pearl Towne, and Ray Coleman. In addition to food certificates, Elders received laundry baskets filled with soaps, scrubbers, towels, bleach, and other miscellaneous items. Ann and Carol did all the shopping for the items contained in the baskets for these initial food runs.

This photo, taken at Dikon in September 2000, shows Ann and Ray unloading giveaways from a car while Elder Bessie Paul looks on.

Here are some of the laundry baskets used to hold the giveaways.

After these first food runs, the number of volunteers increased and sponsors were found for the Elders. This made it possible for the food runs to evolve into full-blown food runs as we know them today. However, as mentioned in the other blogs about Dilkon and Leupp, the Elders at these locations have now elected to receive food certificates again in lieu of food boxes.

Ann Voda and Carol Ashton have been dedicated volunteers with ANE for many years and remained active in attending food runs until 2010. They still take part in the annual rug show where they can be found working at the hand spun rug table. Their heartfelt years of service and infectious laughter will always be an important part of ANE's history.