The Oneida Food Distribution Program (OFDP) was started July 9, 1980 on the Oneida Reservation in Wisconsin. Nori Damrow has been the original and sole active Director of the Oneida Food Distribution Program since it’s inception. The program gives food in lieu of food stamps. To be an effective organization, the Food Distribution Program continually assess the needs of its’ participants to make sure they are addressing all of their requirements. The Oneida Food Distribution Program assists in feeding the low-income community members. Our Food Package from the USDA is worth approximately $100 per person per month, and is well balanced in all food groups. Over the years, the caseload has fluctuated from approximately 400 to 1000 certified participants. The average caseload in 2006 was over 600 clients monthly.
Ms. Damrow, the Director of OFDP, knew there were quite a few people in Oneida who were, for one reason or another, not receiving the USDA food assistance. Through persistence and diligence, Ms. Damrow made that food pantry a reality in March 2000'. Her inspiration is contagious, and the pantry is entirely run by volunteers.
Many of the volunteers are low-income community members who would need to utilize the service anyway. This way the community members actually work for their food, which assists us with the program and gives them a feeling of accomplishment. Ms. Damrow has on average 22 volunteers each month that put in approximately 401 hours per month.
Our fund raising practices have also helped us sustain the pantry through the first couple of years. Our volunteers have found several ways to raise money such as: luncheon specials, soliciting products from retailers and having auctions, and Easter Basket making.
These events have been sufficient to pay for day to day operations, but have not allowed for future planning. Thanks to a grant written by Bill Ver Voort, OCIFS Coordinator, the Pantry was fortunate enough to get a $23,000 endowment grant from First Nations Development Institute through it’s ‘Native American Hunger Program’. The $23,000 endowment is deposited in the Oneida Nation Endowments Account where it earns interest and dividends on a daily basis, plus 20% of all the Pantry fundraising.
By the middle of fiscal year 2007' we had over $38,000 in the endowment. This is our second campaign and we learned a lot for the first year, so we are hoping for a very successful 2007 Endowment Campaign. The Oneida Nation is currently paying the salary of the very dynamic and capable, Pantry Coordinator, Gary Smith. However, we hope to get enough funds in the endowment that will allow us to pay for the Coordinator position and thus lead us to self sufficiency.
We are very proud of the fact that the Oneida Pantry is entirely volunteer run. We have about 25 volunteers and most of our food is donated.
