Halchita "service above self" weekend a huge success!

 

 

"Many groups reach out to us every year, wanting to help in some way,” noted a community leader in the remote village of Halchita, UT, “but only Rotary has actually shown up!” And, show up we did!

At the beginning of RY2020-21, when the pandemic was wreaking havoc on the world, this Utah Rotary District Governor saw a need and an opportunity to engage Rotarians in, what then-RI President Holger Knaack called “bigger, better, bolder service to change lives” and established Utah’s Native American Initiative.  The hard-working and well-connected Paul Summers (Bountiful Rotary Club) agreed to serve as NAI chair.  Representatives from at least one-third of Utah’s 45 clubs immediately stepped up – in multiple ways – to assist several of Utah’s 11 tribal communities.  Over the next year, many truckloads of donated materials and supplies crossed the state in support of those inordinately hard hit by the coronavirus due, in part, to multi-generational housing and a lack of reliable electricity and clean drinking water … including support for Halchita. 

This tiny tribal community – located on the northern border of the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners area of southeastern Utah – is miles from anywhere. Nevertheless, the landscape - while remote and mysterious - is a cinematographer’s dream.  The people are cautiously friendly – no doubt, from centuries of isolation and generations of mistrust of those who promise to treat them fairly – but don’t.  

 

Halchita has an interesting history.  When the uranium mine closed, which had employed many Halchita residents, the Utah Navajo Development Company found a way to buy the town – including all 45 homes at a cost of $75,000.  A federal grant provided a way to remove asbestos and uranium from the homes which were then sold back to the residents at a cost of $450 for a 3-bedroom, $350 for a 2-bedroom and $250 for a 1-bedroom dwelling.  While many still live in those homes, there is no school, no medical or emergency facilities, no businesses and no way to earn a living within 40 miles of the boundaries of this little reservation community. 

 

After nearly 18 months of hopeful planning by Rotary leaders, somewhere between 75-100 Rotarians and their families, Rotaractors and friends of Rotary showed up on Halloween weekend (Oct. 28-31, 2021) to renovate an old school turning it into a community center.  Everyone jumped in with gusto and the building became the scene of beautiful chaos (think "beehive").  Rotarians enthusiastically tore out shelves and appliances, painted almost every square inch of the building – inside and out – installed modern and professionally made cabinets in the library and kitchen (donated by a Rotarian in Cedar City and valued at about $17,000), sorted thousands of donated books to create an amazing community library, and cleaned up a baseball diamond including an improved dugout. At the conclusion of four days of “service above self,” a Trunk or Treat event attracted many nearby children excited to fill their bags with candy, toothbrushes, small toys, and books.  Some also took home warm winter coats, hats, quilts and other gifts. 

 

Sadly, some of the children did not come for Trunk or Treat, planned especially for them, because they did not have a costume or the money to buy one.  We were heartbroken when we heard this!

 

Our only faux pas (at least we want to hope it was our only mistake) had to do with red rocks!

Some who visited our project over 4 days, commented:

·       *    “You did all of this for us?”

·      *     “I’ve lived in southeastern Utah for almost all of my 90 years … and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

·       *    “This week in Halchita has been a true Rotary experience. My wife (also a Rotarian) is going to be so sorry she missed this!”

·       *    When asked, “what is Navajo Strong?” three young staffers responded, “we are Navajos helping Navajos, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. We strive to honor our ancestors and work hard to help citizens affected by disease, poverty, and other health disparities on the Navajo Reservation … and now we’re also huge fans of Rotary!”