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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation recently received approval to expand the Food Distribution Program into Claremore. Beginning February 6, the Cherokee Nation will serve Indians residing within the city limits of Claremore with a tailgate site located at the Claremore Expo Center, adjacent to the Claremore Indian Hospital.

The Cherokee Nation applied for a waiver of regulations from the United Stated Department of Agriculture that prohibited the Cherokee Nation from serving urban areas with more than 10,000 residents. After more than a year of negotiations, the USDA approved the service expansion for Claremore.

"The main reason Cherokee Nation went to all the effort of applying for the waiver and negotiating with the federal government was because we felt there was a larger number of Indians, not just Cherokees, residing in Claremore who could benefit from the program," said Bud Squirrel, manager of the Cherokee Nation Food Distribution program. Squirrel says he expects the Cherokee Nation to serve more than 200 new clients in Claremore.

To be eligible to participate, one member of the household must have a tribal membership card or a Certified Degree of Indian Blood card from a federally recognized tribe and meet income guidelines. The current monthly income limit cannot exceed $873 for the first person and $275 for each additional household member. To qualify, clients must bring 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 signed by two adults that are not related to the 18 year old. Self-employed clients need to bring current tax papers. Household members must also provide verification of identity (Social Security cards, birth certificates, driver's license) and verification of residency (a utility bill or phone bill).

The Cherokee Nation will set up a tailgate food distribution site on Thursday, February 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Expo Center located at 400 Veterans Parkway. Certification will take place on the same day inside the Expo Center.

The Cherokee Nation also operates a food distribution site in Salina that is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Salina Food Distribution site is located at 900 North Owen Walters Boulevard, next to the Cherokee Nation Amo Salina Health Clinic.

The Cherokee Nation Food Distribution Program serves more than 130,000 clients a year. Clients who participate in the Cherokee Nation program are not eligible for food stamps. For more information, please call 918-456-0671, (ext.2920 or 2910).