Most people in the United States became familiar with common advice for preventing COVID-19: wash your hands often and stay home as much as possible.

But what if you don’t have access to running water, food, or electricity? For many people across the Navajo Nation, these challenges made it much harder to stay safe during the pandemic.

In May 2020, the Navajo Nation reported one of the highest per-capita rates of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States (National Library of Medicine). Spanning an area roughly the size of West Virginia, the reservation is home to hundreds of thousands of people, with more than a third lacking access to clean running water and other basic necessities.

World Renew responded by focusing its national COVID-19 efforts on supporting Navajo communities with life-sustaining supplies. Because we believe in coming together during times of crisis, we also partnered with RCA Global Mission and Rehoboth Christian School, located on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, to help meet urgent needs.

A Local Partnership Meeting Urgent Needs

Carol Bremer-Bennett, World Renew’s U.S. Executive Director, says:

“The Navajo are family-oriented and it is heartbreaking to see the devastation that COVID-19 is causing, particularly for the elderly. Yet, the Navajo are also resilient people of faith and hope. Their strength is beautiful and the Navajo churches and Rehoboth Christian School are working to help people see the great love of God in the midst of suffering.”

Even after schools closed because of the pandemic, Rehoboth staff worked tirelessly to support students and their families. Many families relied on the school’s free lunch program, and staff found ways to continue providing meals despite the closures.

As the outbreak continued, community needs grew. Gallup, the nearest town where many families purchased affordable supplies, was temporarily shut down. As a result, more people depended on Rehoboth’s food and water distribution efforts.

With support from World Renew donors, the school was able to double the number of families served, increasing from 50 to 100 households.

World Renew prioritizes partnerships with local organizations because they are best positioned to understand and respond to community needs.

“They know the area, they know the issues better than we do,” says Bob Laarman, Director of World Renew Disaster Response Services.

This local approach became especially important during the pandemic, when volunteers could no longer travel to affected areas in the same way as during other disasters. Instead, response efforts were carried out by people already living and working in the community.

For example, Rehoboth hired members of the Navajo Nation to help deliver food, water, and other supplies to families living in remote areas.

Another important partner in this work was RCA Global Mission. Scott Engelsman, Supervisor of Marketing, Disaster Response, and RCA Mission in Europe and the Middle East, says:

“Through the generosity of donors, we have been able to provide funding to partners around the world to help feed those on the margins who are even more impacted by economic shutdowns. The partnership with World Renew has allowed us to do that for the Navajo as well.”

World Renew’s Navajo Nation COVID-19 Response

This crisis was unlike any disaster World Renew had responded to before. Reflecting on the unique challenges of the pandemic, Bob Laarman shared a common saying used in disaster response:

“The one thing all disasters have in common is that they’re all different.”

That perspective helped guide World Renew’s approach. While COVID-19 changed many traditional response methods, World Renew remained committed to serving vulnerable people by working through trusted local organizations and community leaders.

Through partnerships with Rehoboth Christian School, RCA Global Mission, and members of the Navajo Nation, essential food, water, and support reached families facing extraordinary challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crises may look different from one community to the next, but World Renew’s commitment to North American Disaster Response remains the same. We walk alongside vulnerable communities through recovery and beyond, supporting locally led solutions that restore stability, build resilience, and renew hope.

Through trusted partnerships and the generosity of supporters, World Renew will continue serving those most affected by disaster, helping communities move from crisis toward long-term recovery.

Join us in supporting communities through crisis and recovery. Give generously today.