The Episcopal Youth of Navajoland

12/27/2025

Friends, if you encounter discounted wrapping paper, ribbon, or gift bags and bows, would you kindly consider purchasing them for our next year's Giving Tree initiative and sending them to us? Have a happy last weekend of 2025!

12/24/2025

🌲 Giving Tree – A Season of Gratitude 🌲

This Christmas season, the Giving Tree ministry through ECN was carried forward by many hands and open hearts. Through this effort, 118 children in Navajoland were cared for, each one remembered through thoughtful and generous gift-giving.

The Giving Tree became a gathering place, where presents were wrapped, food boxes assembled, and holiday goody bags prepared. Meals were shared, stories were told, and laughter filled the space, reflecting the strength of kinship and community.

This work was guided by gratitude and the teachings of caring for one another. We give thanks to the Creator for the spirit of generosity that moved through every person who participated and for the connections strengthened along the way.

Thank you to every church, family, and individual who supported the Giving Tree. Your kindness helped make this season one of warmth, dignity, and hope for 118 children and their families.

Ahéhee’ — thank you.
🌲❤️

11/25/2025

Yá’át’ééh!

Giving Tree Update

We just received wonderful news from a friend at Trinity Everett—they have generously offered to support any remaining children who still need gifts this year. 🙌 I’ll be sending their team 19 children from our Giving Tree list, and I am deeply grateful for their willingness to partner with us once again. What a blessing! 🎄💛

You can still support our ministries this season by contributing to our Food Ministry or to the Holiday Goody Bags.
Please email [email protected]
to designate your gift so we can ensure it goes exactly where you intend.

Support the Holiday Goody Bags

Each year, everyone attending our Christmas Eve service receives a traditional brown paper bag filled with peanuts, old-fashioned candies, apples, and oranges. This cherished tradition brings joy to children and elders alike across Navajoland.
Monetary donations for the goody bags can be made at ecofnavajoland.org (note “Holiday Goody Bags”). Your support helps us purchase items in bulk for all regions of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland.

Make a General Donation to Our Food Ministry

If you prefer to support families through a financial gift, donations designated for the Food Ministry help ensure that households across Navajoland experience the love and hope of Christmas. These contributions help us fill gaps where food supplies or resources fall short.

Food insecurity remains a significant challenge, especially during winter. Rising heating costs—whether propane, pellets, or firewood—often reduce what families can afford for groceries. For many, it becomes a difficult choice between staying warm and having enough food. Your generosity helps ease that burden.

Give online @ ecofnavajoland.org or mail a check to The Episcopal Church in Navajoland, PO BOX 720, Farmington, NM 87499

11/15/2025

Yá’át’ééh!
As we look toward the Holiday Season, Navajoland is buzzing with activity and excitement. This year, more than 80 children, and counting, are on our Navajoland Giving Tree list, and we are seeking partners to help make their Christmas bright. All children are between the ages of 0 and 18 years old.

A Giving Tree Partner selects a child, shops from their wish list, and sends a gift directly to Navajoland. Each child’s information includes clothing sizes, favorite colors, and a few gift ideas. You’re also welcome to send general gifts for teens not on the list; we always have young people in our pews on Christmas Eve who would be blessed by them.

There are also other meaningful ways to give this season. Each year, after our Christmas Eve Pageant, everyone in attendance receives a traditional holiday goody bag filled with peanuts, old-fashioned hard candies, an apple, and an orange, a beloved custom we’d love your help continuing.

🎄 Help Brighten a Child’s Christmas in Navajoland! 🎄
As we prepare for Christmas, we’re inviting our wonderful Church community to help share the joy with children and families throughout Navajoland. As the number of registered children continues to grow, your generosity truly makes a difference.

🎅 How You Can Help
1. Become a Giving Tree Partner
Choose a child, shop for their gift, and send it unwrapped to our office.

2. Support the Christmas Goody Bags
Please help us fund the traditional treat bags that will be handed out at the Christmas Eve service.
Donate at ecofnavajoland.org and email us to designate your gift for Holiday Goody Bags.

3. Make a General Donation
If shopping isn’t possible, a monetary donation helps cover seasonal needs.
Donate at ecofnavajoland.org and email us to note your gift is for the Giving Tree Project.

❤️ Why Your Support Matters
For many children, these gifts, or even a simple treat, may be the highlight of their holiday. Your generosity brings joy, hope, and a sense of connection, reminding our families that a caring community surrounds them.

🎁 Ready to Make a Difference?
Time is running short to join this year’s Giving Tree!
Sign up today to become a Giving Tree Partner or support the Christmas Eve goody bag tradition.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🔗 Sign up: https://signup.com/go/iRbxOwH
Together, we can make this Christmas season shine for every child and family in Navajoland. 🌟🎄

SignUp.com makes it easy to coordinate school events & classroom activities, fundraisers, snack schedules, potlucks & more!

08/15/2025

Yáʼátʼééh (Hello friends)!

As we prepare for the new school year in Navajoland, we are asking for your support to help us gather school supplies for our children. 📚✏️

You can help in one of three ways:

-Purchase from our Amazon list ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2S8Y6C9Q9NBBP?ref_=wl_share

-Donate online https://ecofnavajoland.networkforgood.com/projects/125259-the-episcopal-church-in-navajoland and send an email with your name and donation amount stating you would like to designate your gift to "School Supplies" to [email protected]

-Mail a check with “School Supplies” in the memo line.

🗓️ Supplies need to be gathered by the end of August to ensure they’re in the hands of students in time.

This Amazon list was created in 2024 for the 2025/2026 school year, based on items requested by families. In addition to standard supplies, there is a growing need for:

-Socks
-Undergarments
-Toiletry items for children

We are actively exploring how best to collect these essential items, and we’ll keep you updated.

🎄 And looking ahead — we’ll soon be announcing partner signups for our 3rd Annual Giving Tree Project! This beautiful program matches outside partners with a Navajoland child (from birth to high school senior) to provide gifts for Christmas.

Your generosity makes a real difference. Ahéhee’ (Thank you) for standing with our youth and families.

Below are images from last year of purchasing and packing school supplies to distribute to the children in the three regions of ECN.

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11/19/2024

Tʼáá íiyisíí Ahéheeʼ, Nitsaago! Thank you very much!
All 95 children have partners! You can still spread holiday cheer in Navajoland by donating to our Christmas Goody bags and our Food Pantry. Feel free to message GJ for more information.

11/15/2024

**Update, all children have found partners!**
Yá'át'ééh! It has been a busy year in Navajoland and we are now approaching the Holiday Season.

Ninety children and counting are on the Navajoland Giving Tree list; we still need partners! All children are aged zero to 18.

A Giving Tree partner shops, purchases, and sends a gift to a child in Navajoland who signed up to receive it. I have information about children, such as clothing size, favorite color, and a wish list. You can also send general gifts for teenagers who are not on the list because we will have children in our pews who are not on the list.

There are other opportunities to give for Christmas to all the congregations, like helping fund the holiday goody bag each person receives after our Christmas Eve Service. I read up on this tradition, which also has quite a history in Navajoland. However, the only stories I can find online refer to an Appalachian Christmas tradition. Gathering elders' stories about this tradition in Navajoland would be interesting. The tradition is that after the Christmas Eve Pageant, everyone in attendance would be gifted a brown lunch bag of peanuts, mixed nuts (if funds allow), old-fashioned hard candies, apples, and oranges.

🎄 Help Brighten a Child’s Christmas in Navajoland! 🎄
As the holiday season approaches, we’re reaching out to our amazing Church community to help make Christmas brighter for children and families in Navajoland. This year, with 90 children already on our Giving Tree list (and counting!), you can make a real difference by sharing the joy of the season. 🌟

💝 What is the Navajoland Giving Tree? It’s a new (second annual) cherished tradition where YOU can choose a child’s wish list, purchase gifts they need or want, and spread holiday cheer. These gifts will bring a smile to a child’s face who may otherwise go without this Christmas. 🎁

🎅 How Can You Help?
1. Become a Giving Tree Partner: Pick a child’s wish list and shop for their gift. Send your unwrapped gift to our office.
2. Donate for Goody Bags: Help fund the holiday goody bags filled with traditional treats for our Christmas Eve service. Donate online at ecofnavajoland.org and email us to let us know the donation is for the Holiday Goody Bags.
3. Make a General Donation: If you can’t shop for a child, a monetary donation helps cover holiday expenses. Donate online at ecofnavajoland.org and email us to let us know the donation is for the Giving Tree Project.

Whether you shop for a specific child or contribute to the goody bags, your generosity will make a huge impact! 🙏

❤️ Why It Matters
For many of these children, a simple gift or treat can be the highlight of their holiday. It’s a symbol of hope, care, and community—a reminder that we’re all connected through the spirit of giving. 💕

🎁 Ready to Make a Difference? Time is running out to join our Giving Tree campaign! Sign up today to become a Giving Tree Partner or contribute to the goody bags.

📩 [Contact us [email protected]] | [Sign up here https://signup.com/go/pEKMZEb]

Together, we can make this Christmas special for every child and family in Navajoland! 🌟🎄

12/18/2023

Good morning! Today, we will have a book giveaway at the Hozho Center in Farmington. Some warm clothing will be available for you to rummage through, as well as a few toys. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and cookies on this beautiful, clear day. Happy winter break! Be safe, and stay warm!

*If you would like to volunteer, please stop by at 2 PM. 1257 Mission Ave Farmington, NM 87401

07/08/2023

We have so many to thank for making this journey a success. Eight youth from Navajoland got to experience many firsts, and we are happy to be part of that. For some, first flights, first time to Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington DC. First time to see the capital, the National Mall, and the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. Also, it is the first time to experience the celebration of church that is so different than what we are used to. The Episcopal Youth Event showed us Episcopalians our age, and it also showed how vast and diverse we are. We met new people, participated in services, and shared Communion with hundreds of high school kids. We also learned from workshops we attended and learned from speakers and clergy. We had so much fun and are beyond thankful. We are on the first leg of our trip back to Navajoland. Safe travels!

07/08/2023

Follow the link for some updates from the final day at the Episcopal Youth Event from the Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs. Tonight's closing service offering will go to Navajoland Youth and Navajoland Covid Relief. The QR code to donate is in the link below.

07/06/2023

Another great service. Always great to hear the Presiding Bishop preach!

07/06/2023

Johanna and Keaira participate in the EYE Healing service. Beautiful service and great music.