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Friday, Mar 29th

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Thoreau Chapter distributes toys to local youth

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THOREAU – On Christmas day, Council Delegate Edmund Yazzie (Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake, Thoreau) who represents several of the local communities, and Thoreau Chapter officials distributed toys to over 100 local youth on Christmas Day.

According to chapter president Lester Emerson, the Navajo Nation Office of Youth Development in Crownpoint and the Thoreau Chapter contributed the toys for the first annual toy distribution.

Delegate Yazzie has previously noted that there has been a rise in the number of suicides among youth in the local area in recent months and that the toy distribution is one way of bringing positivity to the youth and communities.

“I thank the Thoreau Chapter officials for organizing the toy give-away,” Yazzie said. “I think it truly lifted the spirits of our youth on this special day.”

Emerson said the community of Thoreau is also working toward other initiatives that would benefit the youth such as developing a wellness center and basketball courts.

“We want to keep our youth occupied by providing them positive opportunities to engage with one another and their communities,” Yazzie said.

Emerson explained that the initiative began when a nine-year old community member came before the chapter members recently during a planning meeting and recommended the toy give-away to provide something positive for needy children during the holidays.

“From that point on, we began seeking donations and we are thankful to the Office of Youth Development’s Crownpoint office for their contributions,” Emerson said.

Yazzie, Emerson, and other chapter officials volunteered over two hours to distribute the toys at the chapter house last Friday.

Chapter officials and Yazzie said they hope to continue the event on an annual basis and hope to have more donations from various sources in the coming years.