Food Run Report - Teesto 5/10/12

by John Aldrich

Teesto is the last food run in the spring sequence. It's a bitter sweet experience - - - those who have been on the road for over three weeks are exhausted and ready to return home, but yet it's another food run and each is a unique, rewarding, and wonderful occasion. As we headed down the road to Anita Jackson's homeland, we were greeted by this scarecrow.

Anita is a regular at the rug show as well as a gracious hostess for the food run. She has a cute sense of humor which is indicated by this scarecrow. Here is Anita beside her loom where she has just started one of her signature snow flake rugs (come to the rug show and you might be able to acquire it).

This is also the last stop for Howard and Beverly Benally who drove the big Penske truck loaded with boxes and gifts from the warehouse in Salt Lake for the last week of food runs.

Howard must use vacation time to come on the food runs but does so because of his generosity and love for the Elders. On their return trip they made a stop in Gallup to pick up a load of special pickles for the Native American Trading Post in Salt Lake where Beverly works.

The box crew made short work of setting up the Rainbow Circle.

While waiting for the program to start, Dennis Lewis appears to be giving Cindy Devers some advice.

Rez Vet, aka Dr. Adrienne Ruby, was a colorful visitor at the food run. She sponsors Frances Bahe and actually lives nearby on the Hopi reservation in a home with no power or running water. She maintains a veterinary practice that covers much of the western portion of the reservation.

Seeing grandchildren interacting with their Elders is always a delight.

During the giveaways, Dan Villa presents a package of cornmeal to his Elder, Lena Begay, who was the oldest Elder at the food run.

The food at the Teesto run is always a treat thanks to the work of Anita's family. This spring they cooked several turkeys in deep fryers, and members of her family later helped to serve the meal.

The last photo shows the wind kicking up a bit of dust just before the conclusion of the food run. It seemed to be a reminder that although we were lucky to have no major windy days during the food runs this spring, it's always a force that can surface at any time.

In the end, we had a very successful spring food run season, delivering our food and gifts to eleven locations. In return all the volunteers attending these runs felt the blessings of being in the presence of the Elders once more.

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