This month’s Giving Project nonprofit is the Native American Advancement Foundation (NAAF).
Founded by members of the Tohono O’odham Nation, NAAF’s goal is to strengthen the native community through a variety of programs on tribal lands.
“You can see how rural we are to anything,” Senior Director of Programs Selina Jesus says of NAAF’s location.
Jesus knows the important role NAAF plays for to those living on the western edge of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
She helped start the foundation and oversees yearly updates to their programs.
“It’s based on different categories like housing, education, like food security,” Jesus tells me.
NAAF has several programs dealing with food security , including a partnership with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
And within the last few years, NAAF has opened its own small store to serve those living nearby.
“We don’t see it as a grocery store, we see it as a program,” says Jesus. “It’s able to provide food for community members, nation members, people that come through.”