The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC) has received a $5,000 grant from the Native American Community Response Fund to help provide urgent assistance to the most vulnerable Native communities in Oklahoma during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Six churches, in areas where the state and tribes have limited resources, were selected to receive the funds.
“The funds are to support Native Americans who live in urban centers and who do not benefit from federal benefits directed towards tribal communities,” said the Rev. David Wilson, OIMC superintendent. “The churches selected are already operating food banks, children’s ministries, and serving Native elders on shoestring budgets.”
Native Americans in Philanthrophy announced the grant award, which was created in partnership with Decolonizing Wealth and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition. The OIMC was invited to apply for the grant due to its collaboration with the National Urban Indian Family Coalition work on the 2020 census and voter registration.
“We were so excited to have an opportunity to apply for these funds,” said Wilson. “I know these local communities will stretch the money to reach as many people as possible.”
The selected churches in Oklahoma include: Ponca Indian United Methodist Church, Ponca City; Pawnee Indian Mission United Methodist Church, Pawnee; Clinton Indian Church and Community Center, Clinton; Petarsy Mission United Methodist Church, Elgin; Billy Hooton United Methodist Church food bank, Oklahoma City; and the Tulsa Indian United Methodist Church food bank, Tulsa.
The initial funding round is projected to impact over 12,000 community members throughout eight organizations nationwide, according to Decolonizing Wealth officials. The organizations were selected because they are deeply embedded in their communities and are able to provide immediate assistance in the forms of food, shelter, advocacy and more.
The funding was made possible by persons and organizations contributing to the Native American Response Fund. Contributions can be made at http://nativephilantrophy.org/coronovirus.
