In the Navajo tradition, a giveaway circle is where people share what they can with those who need it. For 10 years, Linda Myers has watched a small circle grow in ever-widening ripples to include hundreds throughout the United States and several foreign countries.

The Adopt-A-Native-Elder program began with Myers, Rose Hulligan, Grace Smith-Yellowhammer and Jeanie Patton. People in the Park City/Salt Lake area gathered food and clothing to share with the elders on the Navajo reservation.Giveaway circles end up giving back to the givers, the women discovered. The gratitude and blessings of the elders enriched the lives of the volunteers. The program has flourished and grown with a Web site (http:www.anelder.org) and e-mail (mail@anelder.org). There are twice-yearly food runs where caravans of volunteers (35 vehicles in October) take boxes of food, clothing and medicine (more than 700 on the last run) to the elders at Big Mountain, Tsaile, Teetso and Many Farms, Ariz.

Each November brings a rug sale (please see box for more information), with the elders caravaning with their beautiful wool rugs to Park City, where Myers finds accommodations for them. This year, the elders will visit with children who are being bused from Salt Lake and Summit County schools to see demonstrations of wool carding and spinning, weaving, dancing, storytelling and other Navajo traditions.

The rug sale is called "Weaving a Pathway to the Future" because the grandmothers are teaching weaving to the newest generation of Navajos. The tiniest, 4-year-old Shy Shepard, will show her rug along with Byron Nez, who is 9. Georgette Cook, who is 13, has woven an intricate rug, showing skills beyond her years.

Myers is a fiber artist with a shop in Park City. She said, "If I look in my cupboard and don't see what I want, I can go to the bagel shop. But some of the elders must travel two hours to get to a store. The old ones never make it to the clinics." So to help the elders, Myers developed a "medicine box" to send on the food runs. It includes over-the-counter items like aspirin, Ben-Gay, cough drops and bandages.

Many people have heard of the program and pay $15 to receive a newsletter or adopt an elder by sending them a $50 food box twice a year. The Arizona food bank gathered food. Park City seniors made blankets to send. A woman in Charlottesville, N.C., saved money out of her grocery budget and bought new shoes and coats. "Over the months, her boxes rolled in. It's something I wouldn't have had time to do," Myers said. Another woman hand-knit socks to send.

"The giveaway occupies most of my waking hours," Myers said. "What has happened to the program is way beyond my vision." Myers remembers an elderly grandmother who accepted a food box, saying, "You must wish me to live another day."

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Additional Information

Park City's annual Navajo rug sale weaves pathways to the future

What: Eighth annual Navajo rug sale and jewelry show. The Navajo elders and children whose rugs will be exhibited will demonstrate wood carding and spinning, weaving, dancing, storytelling and other traditions. Sponsored by the nonprofit Adopt-A-Native-Elder program. All proceeds go to the elders.

The 10-year-old program collects and delivers food, clothing and medical supplies to the elders on the Navajo reservation.

Where: The Snow Park Lodge, Deer Valley Resort in Park City.

When: Special fund-raiser, Friday, 6 p.m., live auction, hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and 10 percent discounted preview rug sale. Tickets $25 per adult, $10 for children under 12.

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Rug sale and show, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8-9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission for show and sale $5 and/or canned food items for the elders.

Saturday: children's story hour at 1 p.m., weaving demonstration at 2 p.m., and at 4 p.m. the grandmothers will speak of their traditional ways.

Sunday: Blessing Ceremony at 11 a.m., children's story circle at 1 p.m., weaving demonstration at 2 p.m., and at 3:30 p.m., a drum group and pow-wow dance troupe will perform a special tribute in honor of the elders.

For more information, call Linda Myers at 649-0535 or Christa Thompson at Deer Valley at 645-6522.

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