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SALINA, OK – Members of the Coo-y-yah church and community volunteers are teaming up to build a new fellowship hall with funding provided by the Cherokee Nation. Coo-y-yah church members need the fellowship hall to hold meetings, receptions, reunions and classes.

"We meet in an old school building that doesn't provide many classrooms or have an open area to hold gatherings outside of the chapel area," said Thelma Kingfisher, Coo-y-yah church member. "We just thank the Lord that Cherokee Nation came through to help us with funding."

The Cherokee Nation has awarded a total of $900,000 to 22 community organization for improvement projects within their communities. With a goal to develop stronger Cherokee communities, the projects have varied and include everything from replacing water lines, building walking trails and recreational facilities to replacing roofs on buildings. The communities provide the labor and the Cherokee Nation provides funding assistance for materials, equipment and inspections.

"Since beginning the project, people that do not even go to our church have been stopping by to help," Kingfisher said. "We tell them that it is a community project and they want to help, we have also had more people join the church since beginning the project."

"These projects let communities prioritize what they need and work together to make it happen," said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "We're proud of the work our citizens are doing for their own community and are happy the Cherokee Nation can contribute to the good things that are already going on here."

To apply for funding, organizations completed an application that clearly stated their community needs, volunteers that would be contributing to the project, total dollars needed to complete the project and how this project would benefit the community as a whole.

"These projects help the communities unite and come one step closer towards building stronger communities," said Willard Mounce, Cherokee Nation community services coordinator for the work projects.

For more information about Cherokee Nation community work projects, contact Willard Mounce, phone: 918-453-5935.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org