Cherokee Nation completes $2.8 million expansion of Nowata Food Distribution center

The Cherokee Nation has completed a $2.8 million expansion of its Nowata Food Distribution and Senior Nutrition Site.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. joined other tribal leaders and staff on May 14 to celebrate the grand opening of the newly upgraded facility, which now includes a 1,500-square-foot warehouse, a 500-square-foot expansion of the senior dining area, and a 1,500-square-foot freezer and cooler.

The Cherokee Nation says planning for this expansion started during the pandemic.

“Part of that future planning was to make sure we could meet the needs of a community like Nowata that does have food security needs,” Hoskin said. “We can meet them better with this investment.”

The Nowata facility, which opened in 2012, serves dual purposes as a food distribution store and senior nutrition site. The food distribution program provides free groceries to more than 400 eligible households and is designed like a grocery store, allowing participants to shop in a familiar and dignified setting.

The Senior Nutrition Program serves about 700 seniors each month through in-person and home-delivered meals.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's closed from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch. To qualify for food assistance, at least one household member must be a Cherokee Nation citizen and meet income eligibility requirements.

To learn more about the Cherokee Nation Food Distribution program, click here.