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• ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᎠᏗᎦᎴᏯᏍᏗ ᎤᎾᏙᏢᏒᎢ

ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᎠᏗᎦᎴᏯᏍᏗ ᎤᎾᏙᏢᏒᎢ

The Cherokee Nation Food Distribution Program has been dedicated to distributing nutritious foods to eligible Native American Families residing within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Cherokee Nation and within the USDA Food Nutrition Services approved Service Areas since 1983. The Cherokee Nation Food Distribution Program is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition (USDA) and the Cherokee Nation. USDA-Food and Nutrition Services has developed a well-balanced food package for each participating household member. The amount of food a household receives is determined by the number of eligible household members approved. Services are provided through seven Food Distribution Stores. The Food Distribution Stores operate in a grocery store environment that allows participants to shop in a comfortable and familiar setting.

General contact: 1-800-865-4462

Eligibility Requirements

• At least one household member must prove citizenship in a federally recognized tribe.
• The household must reside within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Cherokee Nation and within the FNS Service Areas.
• Household income cannot exceed income eligibility standards developed by USDA-FNS.
• Households cannot dually participate in the Food Distribution Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly the Food Stamp Program in the same month.
• Households cannot participate in more than one Food Distribution Program in the same month.

Documents Needed

• Proof of Tribal membership:
  • An official card, letter, or other documentation issued by an Indian Tribe which indicates that the individual is a tribal member.
  • An official Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood or Certificate of Degree of Alaskan Blood (both abbreviated CDIB) card.
  • An official document (letter, memorandum, form, etc.) from a Bureau of Indian Affairs office or a Tribe/Nation which states the individual named in the document is the direct descendant (son, daughter, grandchild, etc.) of a federal-recognized member.
• Residential Verification: A current utility bill, phone bill, or rent receipt with applicants name and residential address. Please note a mailing address with a P.O. Box will require a physical address as well as it does not verify your physical address.
• Verification of income: A full month’s income must be verified for all household members over the age of 18. Copies of pension, government checks, pay stubs, or employer’s statement of GROSS earnings. Household members 18 years and older with no income must provide unemployment verification. Self-employed individuals must submit their most recent tax forms.
• Verification of Identity: All household members must provide acceptable verification of identity, such documentation as a driver’s license, work or school I.D., voter registration card, birth certificate, I.D. for health benefits or other programs or other social services.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. 

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
2. Fax:
   202-690-7442
3. Email:
   program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.