When Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members see a need, they show up and take action.

That’s just what Christina Lopez and her daughter Milagros Quintero, also known as Millie of Millie’s Creations, did this summer when they recognized a need for school supplies throughout the Community before beginning of the school year.

The two put together a back-to-school kickoff event at the Community Building on July 12, which was hosted by Quintero’s friends Dominick Martinez and Seneca Silverhorn from the Woodenhead Collective, a self-described “Indigenous collective of unhinged individuals geared to support the arts.”

In under a month, the event went from concept to securing 112 backpacks filled with school supplies for all ages thanks to donations from across the Valley.

“It blew my mind knowing that we had gotten so many donations,” said Lopez.

Donation boxes were placed in the Community at Discover Salt River, the Defense Advocate’s office, the Salt River Food Bank and in Mesa at Horror Monger.

3 Takeaways:

• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members Christina Lopez and daughter Milagros Quintero put on a back-to-school supply event in July.
• More than 100 backpacks filled with school supplies were given away to families in need thanks to donations.
• The event was hosted by the Woodenhead Collective.

“Our goal was to simply give back to the Community and just do something different as Community members,” said Quintero.

With a line out the door, Quintero felt that the turnout was great. The event was open to the public.

Families had fun interacting with Sesame Street– and Woodenhead Collective–themed photo opportunities and participating in both horror and kid movie-themed trivia.

Event guests shopped at vendor booths held by local vendors Mina’s Savage Delights, Malachi Namoki, krazymeltsbymelz, dajcreations, bitterwaterdesign and Ce:dagi Hiosig Designs by Christina, the latter being Christina Lopez’s business.

There were some people at the event in need of school supplies who were non-Native and from outside of the Community, and that was just fine, according to Lopez.

Lopez was touched by one mother in particular who was grateful for the supplies.

“She really was in need of getting backpacks for her kids,” said Lopez, who said the mother’s gratitude hit home for her. Lopez is the mother of seven children herself.

“When my kids were younger, we would go to the Community schools and get backpacks. We would get home and check everybody’s supply list that they needed, and we would divvy it up. It was a relief for me to not have to spend so much on things that they were able to get help with from the tribe.”

In a full-circle moment, Lopez and her family gave back to the Community when they could.

Quintero is already excited for round two next year.

“We are looking forward to bringing this back next year bigger and better!”