NTU Chinle Site to Host Free Produce Distribution for Community Members

NTU Peer Navigators will hand out free La Planta produce boxes at Navajo Technical University's Chinle Instructional Site on April 8, opening the two-hour giveaway to students, faculty, staff, and community members starting at 10 a.m.

The distribution runs until noon and is part of NTU's broader commitment to food security and community wellbeing at its instructional sites. The Peer Navigator program, which coordinates student-support services and community outreach at NTU campuses, announced the event two days ahead of pickup, posting a downloadable flyer to the Chinle site's online calendar on Sunday, April 6. The flyer covers pickup instructions and any eligibility priorities attendees should review before arriving.

Chinle anchors a broad rural corridor along the eastern Navajo Nation, where reliable access to affordable fresh produce is a consistent challenge for families who live far from major grocery options. Events like La Planta directly reduce household food costs while creating a point of contact between the campus and the surrounding community. Local health workers and social service programs sometimes set up alongside produce distributions to share information on nutrition assistance, food banks, and other resources available to Apache County and Navajo Nation families.

Because supply at free distributions is typically limited, organizers encourage attendees to arrive early. The flyer posted to the Chinle site's calendar includes site-specific guidance on loading and transporting produce boxes safely.

Community members with questions, including those interested in volunteering or partnering with NTU on future distributions, can reach NTU Peer Navigators at skyhawkneeds@navajotech.edu.