If you wonder whether San Carlos Apaches still honor our tradition of taking care of each other, here’s a heart-warming -- and true -- story for the holiday season.

As Thanksgiving approached last week, an impoverished resident raising a foster child faced the sad prospect of a holiday where they were likely to go hungry. Tribal Social Service staff heard of their plight - and reached-out to our San Carlos Apache community.

Within 24 hours there’s a range of generosity from those who quickly stepped-up and offered to help:

SCATUI added the small family to the utility employees ‘holiday adoption list’, sponsoring Thanksgiving dinners ordered through Basha’s

One of the generous administrators at San Carlos Apache Healthcare donated a $50 gift card

Their Tribal Council representative donated a turkey

A CPS staffer arranged for a ‘pre-Thanksgiving’ Wednesday night meal, one sponsored by St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Globe - this annual community dinner is free and all are welcome, and co-sponsored with the Gila County Ministerial Association and Dream Manor Inn.

Do you know a family, one of our Tribal elders, or individual who was alone or would have welcomed our collective compassion, or maybe your companionship -- or even just a hot meal last week during the Thanksgiving holiday?

Please alert staff at Tribal Social Service, or San Carlos Healthcare - or SCATUI -- or tell your Tribal Council representative. Our San Carlos Apache community truly does unite, helping those in need.