MMIW Indian Capital celebration and holiday food drive happening this week
(ANADARKO, Okla.) December is considered by many to be “the most wonderful time of the year”. But for families of missing and murdered loved ones, the holiday season can also increase feelings of sadness and loss. This week, MMIW Indian Capital is recognizing an important milestone while giving back to families who have lost loved ones to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crises.
Rochelle RedBone Arebalo (Apache/Comanche) is the MMIW Indian Capital Chapter Chairperson, often working across multiple states to help victims and their families receive the support they need.
She said this year is the chapter’s 3rd Annual MMIW Holiday Food Drive, in which they build baskets for MMIW/MMIP families to lighten the holiday strain. They are also celebrating their 10th year as a chapter.
“We are not just acknowledging our community throughout the years, our supporters, our members, but especially our family and their loved ones’ stories,” Arebalo said.
Arebalo said their goal for the last few years has been to put together 20 Christmas baskets. The first year, they put together 60 for families in the Caddo County, Lawton, Shawnee, OKC and Weatherford areas. Last year they delivered 25 in Caddo County.
“This year we set our goal at 20 and hope for what we can for our families,” Arebalo said.
The baskets will be gifted to families during their annual MMIW Christmas dinner on Saturday, December 20, at the Bethel Baptist Community Center in Anadarko as well as throughout the day on December 21.
The dinner will also include a prayer, songs, and Christmas gifts.
“We push for the answers and stand with our families from the first reach out to helping and supporting them when they need it,” Arebalo said. “We have learned that just the physical support, being with them, means the most and we try to the best of our ability to do just that.”
Donations to MMIW/MMIP families will be accepted through December 20. For drop-off and pick-up information, call MMIW Indian Capital at 405-413-0925.
