![\"girls-with-food\"](\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/fs-navajo-nation-2016.jpg\")
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When an injury forced Crystal Begay\u2019s husband to leave his job, the stay-at-home mom began looking for programs and support that could help get their family of six healthy and back on their feet.<\/p>\n
Begay, who has four daughters, with the youngest three all under the age of 5, lives in a rural community in the western part of the Navajo Nation where resources are hard to come by.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were struggling,\u201d Begay said. \u201cWe had no food, my food stamps were going up and down and I didn\u2019t have any money to provide a Christmas dinner for my family.\u201d<\/p>\n
She heard that St. Jude Food Bank in nearby Tuba City could help. The support that her family received convinced Begay to participate in St. Jude\u2019s Healthy Beginnings program.<\/p>\n
First Things First funds Healthy Beginnings, which provides age-appropriate foods for children ages birth to 5. The goal is to promote the health and well-being of young children by providing good quality and traditional food to families, said Sister Elizabeth Riddell, food bank executive director.<\/p>\n
Families who visit the food bank and have at least one child old enough to eat solid foods receives a Healthy Beginnings bag, Riddell said. \u201cWe supply Gerber stage foods and we really do try to encourage people to give their babies developmentally-appropriate food.\u201d<\/p>\n
Begay twins Amelia and Aaliyah, look forward to treats like applesauce, crackers and milk that are included.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything in the bag is just their size,\u201d Begay said. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve learned to start cooking healthier. It makes me want to do better for my kids.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"