TAHLEQUAH, OK – Days after Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. declared a food security state of emergency, the tribe is deploying $1.25 million to regional food banks and other programs. On October 26, in the midst of the second-longest federal government shutdown in American history, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“Our $6.75 million response to the SNAP crisis is a fiscal and policy choice by a tribal nation in a position to fill the gap,” said Chief Hoskin. “But, in the final analysis, quite simply we are morally and culturally compelled as Cherokees to do this.”
Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner have announced a $6.75 million emergency response package that included $4.5 million in direct cash assistance for Cherokee Nation citizens living with the tribe’s reservation and the surrounding counties. An application for the cash assistance, $185 per individual, is now available.
The package also included $1.25 million in donations to food banks, meal programs and other non-profits in the region.
“Our first duty is to our citizens,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, “but, we also have a responsibility to help as many of our friends and neighbors as possible who may be suffering during the federal government shutdown.”
The largest donations from the $1.25 million “Food Security Partners” fund will be at least $50,000. All other qualified food pantries and similar programs will receive at least $2,000.
“When we reached out to the Cherokee Nation to let them know we would be launching an area-wide food drive, they didn’t hesitate to step up as the lead sponsor,” said Alison Anthony, President and CEO of Tulsa Area United Way. “We actively partner with the tribe across eight counties all year round, but we know the suspension of SNAP benefits forces families already in need to make even more impossible choices. The demands in the moment push our over-extended non-profit community to its limits. When crisis arises, the Cherokee Nation and Tulsa Area United Way will mobilize the community to end suffering because ‘united’ is the only way – and the Cherokee Nation models that every day.”
Food pantries and other non-profit food security organizations are encouraged to email Cherokee Nation to request an application at [email protected] or visit www.cherokee.org to download an application.
“Cherokee Nation is acting quickly and effectively in this crisis,” said Cherokee Nation Council Speaker Johnny Jack Kidwell. “That is due to not only strong leadership, but laws and budgets in place that enable us to step in and make a difference during these difficult times.”
In addition to funding regional food banks and food pantries, the tribe is boosting funding to its network of dozens of CCO-participating independent non-profits within the reservation to support their food pantries and meat distribution programs. Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner also announced on Friday the tribe’s network of 27 “at-large” organizations located in urban areas across the country could access grants of $5,000 to address local food shortages.
Chief Hoskin also renewed his call for Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to tap the state’s historically large budget surplus to replace lost SNAP benefits for all Oklahomans.
“The State of Oklahoma has a surplus of $3.69 billion, including the ‘Rainy Day Fund’ available for emergency response,” said Chief Hoskin. “For over 900,000 Oklahomans, mostly children, this is an emergency that requires state leaders to step up and lead. So far, the state is standing firm at providing zero dollars in support and instead pointing low-income Oklahomans to food banks that are already stressed. It is time for Governor Stitt to follow our lead.”
Chief Hoskin said that Oklahoma could fund one month of SNAP replacement payments to all the state’s SNAP participants for approximately $140 million, less than 4% of the state’s $3.69 billion in reserve funds.
