At 65, Kimberlee C. lives alone in senior housing near the Fort Totten Senior Center on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota. When the community faced a recent water emergency, she was one of many Elders helped through the Native American Aid (NAA) program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA). 

After the tribe issued a water ban, our program partner, Irish Walking Eagle, requested help through NAA’s Disaster Relief service. PWNA delivered a truckload of relief supplies, including canned water, disaster blankets, cleaning items, and paper products. 

Kimberlee said, “It helped me with my budget, especially this stuff; these things are expensive. I really appreciated it, and there are a lot of other people who did.” She especially valued the Clorox wipes and toilet paper. “You can only get small rolls at the local dollar store. To get these supplies, I’d have to go to Devil’s Lake to Walmart, and I’d end up paying around $70. This really helped.” 

Inflation is a growing challenge. “The prices went up. When I go to town, the prices are creeping up 10 cents, 50 cents,” said Kimberlee.  

Since she doesn’t have a phone, she borrows others to check on prices. On her limited monthly income, every extra cost hits hard. “I don’t like using the heat in my house because of the light bill,” she said. “The cost of living is outrageous. I only get income once a month, so it’s hard to budget.” She even unplugged her microwave to lower her utility bill. 

Water was an especially heavy burden. Kimberlee believed the water quality was linked to her health issues over the past couple of years. 

“It was bad; it was full of magnesium,” she said. “For the last two years, I’ve been buying my own water. If I didn’t have money for water, I’d trade things or sell stuff in my house till I got my check. I don’t like asking my kids for anything.” 

She relied on bottled water for drinking and cooking.  

“When I make soup, I’ll use six bottles of water. A pot of coffee is three to four bottles.”  

That’s why receiving water in her NAA supplies brought such relief. 

She said, “I was so happy when they had [water] because even that’s expensive.” She explained that she spends $3.99 for a 24-pack of water, stretching her budget as best she can. 

She has been coming to the Fort Totten Senior Center for three years and shared, “I love this program. They help out a lot of people. A lot of [Elders] don’t have phones and cars, so they go out to the homes.” Kimberlee herself doesn’t have internet, a phone, or a car, so she walks to the center. If the weather is bad, staff members give her a ride. 

Kimberlee raised six children and now has 32 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, with more on the way. Despite her challenges, she continues to give back, donating winter clothing to children in her community. Her philosophy is simple: “It’s looking out for others. Some of them don’t have anybody. Some of them are homeless or kicked out, so it’s good to help.” 

To donors, her message was heartfelt: “God bless you, and we appreciate your help.” 

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