The COVID Committee is working towards spending down stimulus funds that were received at the beginning of Covid in ways that benefit the health and wellness of our tribe and community. According to the guidelines of the stimulus funds, the focus of the funds should be the rural community of McGrath and if available we can further provide support to our tribal members outside of the village. Funds need to be designated by 2025 and need to be spent out by the year 2026.
The council has been able to accomplish a lot of things. Some of the things we are working towards is to maintain access to elder’s homes through the winter so elders have access to medical care, healthy foods and transportation for independent living. To do this we purchased a skid steer and are in the process of building a garage to house and maintain our equipment which is necessary to keep services going within the community.
These services include the delivery of our elder meals from our Elder Meal Program and transportation through the transit van, which is available to all community members during scheduled service hours.
Our Tribal Council is also utilizing this funding to build Caribou Cabins. These new buildings will provide space to educate about food preservation, quarantine space, and a small work out facility to encourage healthy bodies.
MNVC gave funds to mitigate high costs and stresses from the effects COVID had on our tribal households. MNVC has provided the McGrath tribal households with dry goods, food preservation equipment, heating and water assistance, as well as equipment to help maintain heat and cleanliness of homes.
MNVC will not be giving out any additional COVID funds directly to tribal members to abide by the most recent regulation of COVID funds.