After lots of planning and fundraising, along with tremendous in-kind donations, Navajo Santa has successfully completed building the Tall Mountain project.
This project was presented to the Navajo Santa Sustainability committee through Hank Stevens of the Navajo Mountain Chapter in 2019. The project was to provide a small home for 74-year-old Navajo elders, Maie and Edger. Located at Tall Mountain along the Piute Mesa, fourteen miles north of Shonto, Arizona, this new home would replace their drafty, older hogan that was no longer suitable for habitation.
In the words of Maie, she has waited her whole life for a home like this.
The Navajo Santa volunteer crew traveled to Tall Mountain and set up camp close to the building site. In 10 days, they were able to construct a simple, functional house for Maie and Edger. The new home has one bedroom, a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and a mechanical room. The metal roof can collect water that then runs into the storage tank – similar to all the rain harvesters Navajo Santa has provided at other locations on the Nation. A septic and water cistern system will be installed for house water by Hank Stevens.
This project is something that all participants are very proud of. Thank you to America Express, Brent Cox, Cache Valley Electric, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Hansen All Season Insulation, Lowell Construction, Mountainland Supply Company, Susan Pett and Mary Mone, Mary Anne Sheffield, Phillips Marble, Ponds Plumbing, Heating & AC, TS Electric, Wallboard Specialties – and the many others who donated their time to help make this project happen.
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