Every Drop is Precious: IBCs Provide Life-Giving Water to Elder Native American in Need

Protect Native Elders is a crowdfunded, grassroots organization committed to procuring and delivering donated supplies to elders of Native American reservations in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. First centered on the Southwestern tribal nations, such as the Navajo, Zuni and Apache, Protect Native Elders has expanded its network to reach tribes across the U.S., as well as in Canada and Mexico.

In addition to masks, face-shields, hand sanitizer, food and other essential elements, water accessibility is a major concern for these individuals. Protect Native Elders reached out to The Cary Company for a solution. Supplying water to remote reservation homesteads could be achieved using 275-gallon intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). These large, leakproof and durable IBCs both store and provide immediate access to life-giving water for tribe elders who do not have running water in their homes.

"IBCs are a perfect solution--they hold up to 275 gallons," says Bleu Adams, Protect Native Elder's Acting Director. “Being able to provide [the elders] with multiple containers gives them water for up to a month.” Not just for drinking, these containers provide water for livestock, farming and gardening needs, as well.

"We're very grateful for having this network [...] committed to providing us with these amazing gifts that we can distribute to our community," says Adams.