CVMT staffers Tiger Paulk and Tristian Wallace, assist Tule River staffer, Mr. Ron Buckman unload commodity foods from semi-truck. CVMT Tribal Office, Stockton, CA
On Friday, March 14, 2014, the California Valley Miwok Tribe (CVMT) held its monthly USDA Food Distribution. The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) program is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, FDPIR is administered locally by either Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) or an agency of a State government. Currently, there are approximately 276 tribes receiving benefits under the FDPIR through 100 ITOs and 5 State agencies.
USDA purchases and ships FDPIR foods to the ITOs and State agencies based on their orders from a list of available foods. These administering agencies store and distribute the food, determine applicant eligibility, and provide nutrition education to recipients. USDA provides the administering agencies with funds for program administrative costs.
Low-Income American Indian and non-Indian households that reside on reservation, and households living in approved areas near a reservation or in Oklahoma that contain at least one person who is a member of a Federally-recognized tribe, are eligible to participate in FDPIR. Households are certified based on financial (e.g., income) and non-financial standards set by the Federal government, and must be recertified at least every 12 months.
The CVMT Tribal Council sincerely thanks the Tule River Reservation (USDA Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations), Mr. Richard McDarment, USDA FDIR Director, Mrs. Patricia Salas, USDA FDIR Intake Manager, Mr. Jesus Salas, USDA FDIR Staff, and Mr. Ronald Buckman, USDA FDIR Staff & driver.
