Cherokee Nation announced that its emergency programs to respond to November’s federal SNAP benefits has delivered nearly $2 million in cash assistance to individuals and non-profits and will conclude at the end of December.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner issued a declaration of emergency on October 28, two days after USDA announced the suspension of SNAP benefits for all Americans in November.

The declaration tapped millions of dollars in tribal reserve funds for direct cash assistance payments to Cherokee Nation citizens across the country and cash support for non-profit food pantries, meal sites and food banks.

The deadline for Cherokee Nation citizens impacted by the SNAP crisis as well as food security non-profit to apply for assistance was in mid-November.

“I’m proud of our staff across several departments who poured time and energy into delivering assistance to over 20,000 citizens who were the victims of dysfunction in Washington, D.C., as well as support to 175 food security non-profits who stepped up in a major way,” said Chief Hoskin.

“What we saw in November is truly an example of working together, what in Cherokee we call ‘gadugi.’” As of Dec. 1, the tribe had issued cash assistance payments to 20,368 citizens with another 3,293 applications in need of more information from applicants. Cherokee Nation staff will continue working with those applicants in an effort to secure the necessary information before final payments are made. The more than 3,000 applicants needing to submit more information have until Dec. 10 to provide that information.

The 175 non-profit “Food Security Partners” include food banks, food pantries and meal sites across the region as well as a number of the tribe’s network of “CCO participating” non-profits within the reservation and in some major urban areas across the United States.

Recipients of the largest donations under the program include:

• Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, $60,000

• Hunger Free Oklahoma, $60,000

• Tulsa Area United Way, $60,000

• Lake Area United Way, $60,000

• Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, $50,000

• Kansas Food Bank Warehouse, Inc., $10,000 The remaining nonprofits Food Security Partners received donations of between $2,000 to $5,000.

By December 30, Cherokee Nation will also contribute additional food security funds to area Boys and Girls Clubs to ease the pressure put on those organizations during the SNAP crisis.

A complete list of nonprofits and the amounts received is available here or through Cherokee Nation’s online resource map here.

“Overnight, hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans lost the benefits they rely on to put food on the table, and families were suddenly in crisis. Immediate support made all the difference for them,” said Chris Bernard, Executive Director of Hunger Free Oklahoma, which received $60,000 from Cherokee Nation’s emergency food assistance.

“This grant helps families who abruptly lost SNAP access by providing redeemable grocery cards at a local grocer – supporting both families and local businesses in food deserts hit hard during the shutdown. We saw firsthand how this assistance brought parents, grandparents, and local businesses real peace of mind during one of the most stressful moments of the year.”

The tribe is funding its SNAP crisis response from non-federal funds earmarked by the Cherokee Nation Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, a major initiative of the Hoskin-Warner administration that funds a variety of wellness programs, infrastructure and grants using the tribe’s thirdparty health revenue.

“Thanks to the Council enacting the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, Cherokee Nation was ready to step up in a time of need,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “We not only had the funding in place to respond, we engaged our friends across food security non-profits so we could maximize our impact, helping Cherokee and non-Cherokees alike in a time of great need.”

Cherokee Nation launched its SNAP crisis response immediately after USDA announced the end of SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown. The tribe continued to administer benefits even after the government reopened in mid-November.

“The chaos caused by the federal government shutdown disrupted the lives of many Cherokee Nation citizens and caused pain that continues to be felt today,” said Cherokee Nation Council Speaker Johnny Jack Kidwell.

“Fortunately, Cherokee Nation continues to be in a position to provide assistance where it’s needed most. We have a functioning government, a balanced budget, leaders who work well together, and an amazing staff focused on getting the job done.”

Although the application periods for individual assistance has closed, Cherokee Nation encourages the more than 3,000 citizens who still have pending applications to provide the requested records or call 918-453-5058 for assistance.