S moke S ignals
JANUARY 15, 2017
Food Bank provides
boxes, seeks help
The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is operated by
Marion-Polk Food Share, which was been leading the fight to end hunger
since 1987 because no one should be hungry.
Recipients of SNAP, TANF, SSI or LIHEAP assistance automatically
qualify for assistance at the Grand Ronde Food Bank, 9675 Grand Ronde
Road. No one will be turned away in need of a food box.
“We believe that everyone deserves to have enough to eat,” says Food
Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose. “You are welcome to get a food
box at each of our regular weekly distributions. No one will be turned
away in need of a food box.”
Upcoming food box distributions will occur from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday,
Jan. 20, and 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. The Food Bank will be closed
on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Those who are unable to pick up a food box can fill out an authorized
representative form and that person can pick up a food box on your behalf.
The authorization is good for one year.
The Food Bank continues to seek volunteers to help with repacking
food, putting food on the shelves, handing out food boxes and end-of-
month inventory.
In addition, the Food Bank is participating in a program called Fresh
Alliance in which volunteers pick up food donations directly from area
stores. Volunteers with a truck who could pick up at these stores at least
once a week and a partner to ride and help load are being sought.
Call to ensure someone is available to assist. People also can sign up
for a monthly e-mail for the Food Bank calendar and events, as well as
follow the Food Bank on Facebook.
The Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.
Contact Ambrose at 503-879-3663 or at fambrose@marionpolkfood-
share.org for more information or to volunteer. n
ATTENTION
TRIBAL MEMBERS
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant positions.
Ceremonial Hunting Board
Election Board
Powwow SEB
Education Committee
Veterans SEB
Culture Committee
Fish & Wildlife Committee
1 vacancy
1 vacancy, 1 alternate vacancy
1 vacancy
1 vacancy
1 vacancy
1 vacancy
1 vacancy
Please send completed applications to Stacia Martin,
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times for
Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards:
• Ceremonial Hunting Board meets as needed. Chair: Marline Groshong.
• Culture Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month
at the Grand Ronde Food Bank/iskam mfkhmfk haws, 9675 Grand Ronde
Road. Chair: Betty Bly.
• Education Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the
month in the Adult Education building. Chair: Tammy Cook.
• Elders Committee meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month in
the Elders Activity Center. Chair: Julie Duncan.
• Enrollment Board meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance Center.
Chair: Michael Mercier.
• Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the
month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Tyson Mercier.
• Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month
in the Health & Wellness Center. Chair: Patti Tom-Martin.
• Housing Board meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the
Housing Department conference room. Chair: Matt Thomas.
• Powwow Special Event Board meets monthly at noon at the Community
Center. Dates vary. Contact Dana Ainam at 503-879-2037. Chair: Dana
Ainam.
• Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at
the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Bob Mercier.
• Veterans Special Event Board meets at 5 p.m. the first Tuesday of the
month in the old Elders Craft House. Chair: Steve Bobb Sr.
To update information on this list, contact Publications Coordinator Dean
Rhodes at 503-879-1463 or dean.rhodes@grandronde.org.
3
NOTICE TO ALL TRIBAL MEMBERS
ON THE SSI/SSD SUPPLEMENTAL
INCOME PROGRAM
Attention Tribal members
on SSI or SSD programs:
It’s getting to be that time of year again. Time to remember to
send us a copy of your current 2017 benefit statement from the
Social Security Administration so that we can update your file.
This is a requirement for members between the age of 18-
54 who are wanting to re-qualify for this supplemental
program. The SSA benefit statements should start to come out
to those Tribal members who qualify starting around the month
of November with most receiving these statements in December.
If you do not receive your current benefit statement you may order
one by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-
1213 or go online at www.ssa.gov. Your current benefit statement
must reach our office by Jan. 31, 2017, to avoid any future delays
in your benefits.
For Elders age 55 and up, it is a requirement that we
have an updated Social Security Administration (SSA)
letter of eligibility once every two years. Please note: We
will be contacting every Elder on the supplemental program (SSI)
to verify that we get a copy of your SSA statement. Failure to
provide this document may result in your Elder tax status being
changed from non-taxable Elder pension to taxable Elder pen-
sion. We will need a copy of that document (SSA award letter)
to update your file. Please mail copies of your benefit statement
and the application to:
CTGR Member Services
Attn: Jolanda Catabay
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
You may also e-mail or fax a copy to the following; fax: 1-503-
879-2480. E-mail: Jolanda.Catabay@grandronde.org
Note: It is the responsibility of the Tribal member to
notify the Tribe of any changes in your benefits from the
Social Security Administration SSI/SSD program. Failure
to notify the Tribe may result in an obligation to repay in-
eligible benefits received or interrupt or delay your Tribal
Supplemental Security Income and Disability payments.
Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or
concerns. My contact number(s): 503-879-2253 or toll-free 1-800-
422-0232, ext. 2253.
Respectfully,
Jolanda Catabay
Enrollment Member Services Specialist
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Official Tribal Facebook pages
• Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
www.facebook.com/CTGRgov
• Grand Ronde Tribal Council:
www.facebook.com/TheConfederatedTribesOfGrandRondeTribalCouncil
• Grand Ronde Higher Education:
www.facebook.com/grand.r.ed
• Grand Ronde Youth Education:
www.facebook.com/CTGRYouthEducation
• Spirit Mountain Community Fund:
www.facebook.com/SpiritMountainCommunityFund
• Grand Ronde Station:
www.facebook.com/GrandRondeStation
• Grand Ronde Royalty: www.facebook.com/CTGRRoyalty
• Veterans Special Event Board:
www.facebook.com/pages/Veterans-Board-of-the-Confederated-Tribes-of-
the-Grand-Ronde-Community
• Community Garden: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeCommunityGarden
• Grand Ronde Food Bank: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeFoodBank
• Grand Ronde Youth Council: www.facebook.com/CTGRYouthCouncil/
Clothes Closet open Monday, Friday
The Clothes Closet is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Friday on
the Tribal campus near the Elders Activity Center at the end of Blacktail
Drive. It accepts clothes, small appliances, small pieces of furniture, elec-
tronics and household goods that are clean and in good condition. It does
not accept books, large TVs or large furniture, but there is a community
board where people can post those items.
Donations are accepted during regular business hours.
For more information or emergency clothes, contact Lori Walker-Her-
nandez at 559-847-7565 or Daniele Powley at 503-917-8732. n