HENRYETTA – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reintegration Program (RiP) has recently received a Kentucky Fried Wishes (KFC) grant from the KFC foundation in the amount of $10,000. The grant will be used for the food preservation and distribution pantry, and will also include purchasing and renovating a storage building. The building work will enable the storage of dried and preserved herbs, fruits and vegetables. On Sept. 17, MCN RiP held a ribbon cutting to mark the beginning work this grant enables.
MCN RiP offers reentry services, housing, food, and transportation support as well as job training using a holistic approach for MCN citizens returning from incarceration.
The grant will enable MCN RiP to connect their clients to traditional food knowledge and sustainability. Tony Fish, Reintegration Manager, said in a statement, “We are deeply grateful to the KFC Foundation for this Kentucky Fried Wishes grant, which will help our organization transform a storage building into a community pantry that reflects Mvskoke traditions of food preservation—such as drying, seed saving, and gathering—equip it with tools to support sustainable practices, and create a space where clients can reconnect with ancestral knowledge through hands-on learning.”
“We’re thrilled to support such incredible non-profits like MCN Reintegration through
Kentucky Fried Wishes,” said Emma Horn, Executive Director, KFC Foundation. “These grants help make dream projects a reality, strengthening organizations and creating lasting benefits for the communities they serve.”
The grant will also strengthen food access and production on the reservation according to Greenhouse Facilitator Annetta Molet. “This grant empowers us to improve food access for our clients. Last year, we were able to provide plants to over 200 citizens, offering a unique pathway to food sovereignty and wellness,” said Molet.
“This initiative will allow us to expand our reach, deepen our impact.”
Together, gardening and cultural preservation is an important aspect in the programming at MCN RiP; the KFC Foundation award allows the program to strengthen that work and to encourage cultural connections in their clients. Grant Coordinator Deana Votra (Mvskoke) stated, “Many of them don’t know much about gardening, or being able to be self-sustaining, growing their own foods and it really links a lot to our ancestry of how our ancestors had lived. It’s a way for us to pass that on to others and hopefully they pass it on to the next generation.”
“I didn’t grow up traditional and working for the tribe inspires me to learn more about my heritage and more about my culture,” said Votra. “Visiting with clients, they have the same feelings, kind of like a separation from our heritage, a separation from our culture and just the way of life that the people before us have lived. So it’s kind of a way to connect to our past.”
Molet emphasized the health benefits the garden and greenhouse provide. “Our clients have been out of the habit of eating fresh vegetables or vegetables in general,” she shared. “For them to come down to the garden and pick a tomato or something to say ‘I haven’t had it since my grandma used to have a garden,’ so that’s what we want to do is to get them back in the habit of eating some fresh vegetables, for better health.”
Molet said that they not only have a food producing garden, but they also have plants. She’s glad to hear when clients love bringing a plant to their place and comment “it makes it feel more home.” Molet feels that is a big accomplishment- they are growing and eating fresh fruit and vegetables and taking a plant home to grow.
“Sometimes it’s the small things, just seeing life develop that helps you develop your life,” Votra said.
Molet has an open door policy for their greenhouse if people want to come to see what she is growing or what things she is doing- anyone can come to learn and visit.
For any information about RiP you can contact Mark Harjo at 918-549-2620 and his email is maharjo@muscogeenation.com
