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Human services shifts youth-and-elder leadership grant, reminds residents about elder utility help and food-distribution eligibility
Summary
Jennifer Kirby said a youth-and-elder leadership grant was transferred to the Gadugi Corps; the elders-utility-assistance program is processing payments and staff encouraged reapplying for USDA food distribution if applicants were previously ineligible.
Jennifer Kirby, Human Services, briefed the committee on program changes and outreach for elders and families.
Kirby said the youth-and-elder leadership grant (amount in the spoken record described as "$200"; the transcript did not specify the full amount) has been shifted to the Gadugi Corps. She provided a contact number for the Gadugi Corps (918-453-5745) and said Cherokee Nation staff remain available to answer questions and to help transfer applications if dropped off at tribal offices.
Elder utility assistance and food distribution
Kirby reminded councilors that the elders-in-need utility assistance program makes payments twice yearly for Cherokee citizens aged 60 and older who qualify under LIHEAP-related criteria; staff said payments are currently being processed and applied. Councilors were told the program mails paperwork to eligible elders and that payments are being distributed weekly.
On food distribution, Kirby encouraged residents who were denied last year to reapply because USDA eligibility rules and deductions change year to year and can allow some households that previously did not qualify to receive assistance now.
Veterans and community distribution
In a separate presentation later in the meeting, a veterans-affairs representative (Stanley Joel Crittendon) said a Warrior Flight for veterans is tentatively scheduled Sept. 22—25 and that the Tulsa-area food bank had asked whether the nation could accept increased deliveries (moving some sites from quarterly to bimonthly distribution) so veterans could receive more food; volunteers were lined up and staff said they expected to handle the added deliveries.
Ending
Council members thanked Human Services staff for the updates and asked staff to remain available for follow-up questions and transfers of applications.
