Library invites local kids to send drawings, letters to kids of Navajo Nation

COEUR d’ALENE — Coeur d'Alene Public Library youth services librarian "Miss" Mandi Harris is inviting North Idaho's kids to show some love for the youth of the Navajo Nation.

Harris, a member of the Cherokee Nation, is collecting letters and drawings for the children of the Tohaali Community School in New Mexico, where that already underprivileged community has been devastated by COVID-19.

"It’s considered a food desert. They only have 13 grocery stores in 27,413 square miles," Harris said Friday. "It's very remote."

She said the death toll in this community is 177 per 100,000 people.

"That's higher than any U.S. state," Harris said. "One-third of residents don’t have running water, which makes it hard to wash your hands."

By sending illustrations and words of encouragement to the Navajo children who are struggling, local kids will have opportunities to spread hope and kindness and brighten someone's day.

"The kids in our community have such wonderful hearts," Harris said. "They're such brilliant, caring kids. It's a treasure and a joy to work with them."

She said she feels it's important to make and foster these connections across state borders because it expands possibilities for communities to connect virtually and in writing.

"As we have fewer in-person connections, we can have more connections with people farther away from us,” she said.

The project came about because Harris conducted research and learned about the struggles the Navajo Nation and other tribes have had with finding funding, support and other necessities during the pandemic. One thing the Tohaali School was in need of was books by indigenous authors, so Harris took it upon herself to raise $3,500 to buy 200 books for the school. Principal Delores Bitsilly thanked Harris, and during that exchange Harris inquired about a pen pal program between Tohaali and Coeur d'Alene and Bitsilly said her kids would love it.

"A lot of her kids leave school at 2:30 or 3 p.m. but they don’t get home until 5 at night," Harris said. “Some of their buses do have WiFi so the kids can do homework because they’re on the bus for over an hour."

The letters will be received by children from kindergarten through eighth grade. Harris said those who want to participate can drop them off at the front desk in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library or send them to the library at 702 E. Front Ave., Coeur d'Alene, 83814 with "Attention: Mandi Harris" on the envelope. Info: www.cdalibrary.org