Utah family honoring native roots with coat drive to help remote community

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah family is honoring their Native American roots with a coat drive. They're collecting donations for the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.

This is the Tourangeau family's second annual coat drive. The American Fork family is using their garage to accept and sort through clothing and household goods.

On Feb. 16, they're heading to the rural community of Two Grey Hills, New Mexico, where the closest convenience store is an hour away. That's where they'll distribute the items to families in need, with a special focus on providing for elderly residents.

Jennifer Tourangeau grew up in Two Grey Hills. Some of her family members still live on the reservation.

"I have a sister that lives in Two Grey Hills and she shares with us that the elderly, a lot of them are homebound and some of them are widowed, and so they are home alone," Tourangeau said. "And there is a need for warm coats, blankets, food. Once a month, they try to get to the nearest convenience stores for essentials, so there is a great need."

In early 2022, Tourangeau's daughters, Kim, Brittany and Rachel Tourangeau, decided they wanted to do something for the community members of Shiprock, New Mexico. In February, they drove down with a cargo van full of clothing and essentials. When 100 families turned out, they knew they were onto something.

"There was a grandma who walked two miles to get stuff for our coat drive," Kim Tourangeau said.

This year, the Tourangeaus will be delivering donations to Two Grey Hills, which sits between Shiprock and Gallup, New Mexico.

The Tourangeaus say they have plenty of women's clothing but they're still in need of men's clothing and essentials like paper towels and toilet paper as well as non-perishable food.

You can find more information on their GoFundMe* account.

This is also a way for Jennifer Tourangeau to pass down the traditions of her ancestors.

"The elderly mean a lot to me, they've impacted my life so much," Tourangeau said. "They just have so much knowledge to share and with today's fast pace of life we forget to sit down and listen to their stories."

Tourangeau's father served in WWII as a Navajo code talker and her mother wove beautiful rugs that she traded for essentials like flour to feed her family. In later years, when she traveled to larger cities like Phoenix and Salt Lake City, Tourangeau remembers her mother would always go home with groceries and supplies for families in Two Grey Hills.

"She set an example for me and I want to do the same for my girls and my nieces," Tourangeau said.

One of the most rewarding aspects for Tourangeau and her daughters has been the outpouring of community support.

"It's just really neat to see people that are willing to be of service and to give — and their reactions and their excitement," Tourangeau said.

*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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