Navajo First Lady and President Deliver Toys to Tuba City Children

Native News Network Staff in Entertainment. Discussion »

TUBA CITY, ARIZONA – Navajo Nation First Lady Martha Shelly helped deliver and hand out more than 8,000 toys to Tuba City youth last Monday and Tuesday.

The Navajo First Lady and Native American Toys for Tots coordinated The 8,000 toys giveaway.

“I am thankful that some of our children will have toys this Christmas. I'm thankful to the Toys for Tots program for helping us get toys to our young ones. It makes me feel good to see the children smile when they get a gift, ”

First Lady Shelly said.

First Lady Shelly and President Ben Shelly were in Tuba City for two days helping Lt. Col. Peter Tagni, coordinator for the Native American Toys for Tots program. The trio gave out gifts to the young people of Tuba City. About 8,000 gifts were distributed.

“I'm thankful that we can help the children of the Navajo Nation and other Native American tribes. I can see the happiness and it makes me feel good,”

said Tagni, who is retired from the Marine Corps and has been coordinating the Native American Toys for Tots program for 30 years.

Tagni was honored at an appreciation dinner on Tuesday and received a Pendleton robe.

President and First Lady Shelly assisted Tagni starting Monday morning by handing out toys to students at Eagle Nest Intermediate School. Students lined up and were divided into two lines, one for boys and the other for girls. The gifts were age appropriate.

Toys for Tots gave out more than 200,000 toys
to American Indian children

Monday afternoon, gifts of watches, books, basketballs, and digital cameras were passed to the seventh and eighth grade students of Tuba City Middle School.

The next day, gifts were given to the Head Start classes in Tuba City, followed by an assembly for the community and Tuba City High School students, which featured Soulfly singer Massimiliano Cavalera.

“Don't give up your dreams,”

Cavalera said.

“Once you achieve your dreams, you will be able to help others who need help.”

President Shelly also spoke and geared his message to the parents in the in audience.

“I want our kids to be standing on top of the world,”

President Shelly told the audience at Tuba City High School.

“It's up to you, the parents, to make that happen for them.”

Toys for Tots gave out more than 200,000 toys to American Indian children throughout the Holiday season.

posted December 24, 2012 9:30 am est