(no subject)
American Indian center, pantry face crisis
Without help, Siggenauk at risk of closing
By GEORGIA PABST
gpabst@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 17, 2004
Eighty-one-year-old Minnie Snow's Social Security check has been reduced by $66, and her food stamps cut, so she relies on the emergency food pantry and clothing bank at the Siggenauk Interfaith Spiritual Center now more than ever.
"I've been coming to this center for years because it's only about a block from my house," she said this week. The food and clothing help Snow make ends meet, said her daughter, Brenda Snow, who is not sure why her mother's benefits have been trimmed.
Now the center, dedicated to addressing the social, economic, cultural and spiritual needs of Americans Indians, faces its own financial crisis.
"We've always run on a thread, but it's never been this close before," director Linda Fehrer said. "This time, I can't see the light and a way out."
The center at 10th St. and Lapham Blvd. operates in the former rectory of the Congregation of the Great Spirit, which is next door. In 1999-2000, the center served 901 people at the food pantry, Fehrer said, and more than 3,000 last year.
The center relies largely on volunteers, donations, grants and fund-raisers.
But this year's big fund-raiser at Indian Summer didn't bring in what it usually does, Fehrer said. A $25,000 grant the center had hoped to receive from the Indian Community School fell through.
And the Archdiocese of Milwaukee notified Fehrer this week that $5,000 the center hoped for would not be coming.
"Without that grant, we don't even have enough money to pay payroll taxes for the end of the year," Fehrer said.
Fehrer, who is paid $24,000 a year, and an assistant are the only staff. They don't receive health insurance. The center needs about $40,000 a year to operate, Fehrer said.
Kathleen Hohl, communications director for the archdiocese, said the archdiocese is facing financial pressures.
"This year, unfortunately, we determined that we are not able to provide funds to organizations outside the archdiocese, such as Siggenauk," Hohl said.
The center did receive an $11,000 grant from Black and Indian Missions through the archdiocese. And the Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation donated 100 turkeys to the center for Thanksgiving and toys for Christmas. It's part of the Hunger Task Force network and gets food from that, too.
Fehrer said she has tried in the past to get grants from some Indian casinos. The Menominees did give the center $1,800 once for the food basket program.
"But you can only be told 'no' so many times," she said.
She said she thinks tribes try to look out for their own but need to realize not all of them live on reservations.
"I know a lot of native people who won't go to a non-Indian organization for help," Fehrer said.
The center focuses on spirituality, language and culture. It also provides crisis intervention and help for the homeless and for American Indians who die and whose families want to take them back to the reservation.
Originally started as the Office for Native Ministry of the Archdiocese, the center has existed 25 years, she said. In 1988, it was incorporated as a separate non-profit. Yearly financial grants from the archdiocese continued but got smaller, she said.
Father Ed Cook, vice president of the center's board, said Siggenauk is the one place where tribal affiliation doesn't mean a lot and where all who come are helped. But the board of directors may have to vote to close the center, if more resources can't be found, he said.
Fehrer said she will try to keep the center open until after the holidays, "even if we have to donate our time."
If you'd like to help, contributions can be made to the Siggenauk Interfaith Spiritual Center, 1050 W. Lapham Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53204.
This place is really vital for a lot of the Indian community here in Milwaukee.
I don't know what can be done. Any ideas?
Without help, Siggenauk at risk of closing
By GEORGIA PABST
gpabst@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 17, 2004
Eighty-one-year-old Minnie Snow's Social Security check has been reduced by $66, and her food stamps cut, so she relies on the emergency food pantry and clothing bank at the Siggenauk Interfaith Spiritual Center now more than ever.
"I've been coming to this center for years because it's only about a block from my house," she said this week. The food and clothing help Snow make ends meet, said her daughter, Brenda Snow, who is not sure why her mother's benefits have been trimmed.
Now the center, dedicated to addressing the social, economic, cultural and spiritual needs of Americans Indians, faces its own financial crisis.
"We've always run on a thread, but it's never been this close before," director Linda Fehrer said. "This time, I can't see the light and a way out."
The center at 10th St. and Lapham Blvd. operates in the former rectory of the Congregation of the Great Spirit, which is next door. In 1999-2000, the center served 901 people at the food pantry, Fehrer said, and more than 3,000 last year.
The center relies largely on volunteers, donations, grants and fund-raisers.
But this year's big fund-raiser at Indian Summer didn't bring in what it usually does, Fehrer said. A $25,000 grant the center had hoped to receive from the Indian Community School fell through.
And the Archdiocese of Milwaukee notified Fehrer this week that $5,000 the center hoped for would not be coming.
"Without that grant, we don't even have enough money to pay payroll taxes for the end of the year," Fehrer said.
Fehrer, who is paid $24,000 a year, and an assistant are the only staff. They don't receive health insurance. The center needs about $40,000 a year to operate, Fehrer said.
Kathleen Hohl, communications director for the archdiocese, said the archdiocese is facing financial pressures.
"This year, unfortunately, we determined that we are not able to provide funds to organizations outside the archdiocese, such as Siggenauk," Hohl said.
The center did receive an $11,000 grant from Black and Indian Missions through the archdiocese. And the Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation donated 100 turkeys to the center for Thanksgiving and toys for Christmas. It's part of the Hunger Task Force network and gets food from that, too.
Fehrer said she has tried in the past to get grants from some Indian casinos. The Menominees did give the center $1,800 once for the food basket program.
"But you can only be told 'no' so many times," she said.
She said she thinks tribes try to look out for their own but need to realize not all of them live on reservations.
"I know a lot of native people who won't go to a non-Indian organization for help," Fehrer said.
The center focuses on spirituality, language and culture. It also provides crisis intervention and help for the homeless and for American Indians who die and whose families want to take them back to the reservation.
Originally started as the Office for Native Ministry of the Archdiocese, the center has existed 25 years, she said. In 1988, it was incorporated as a separate non-profit. Yearly financial grants from the archdiocese continued but got smaller, she said.
Father Ed Cook, vice president of the center's board, said Siggenauk is the one place where tribal affiliation doesn't mean a lot and where all who come are helped. But the board of directors may have to vote to close the center, if more resources can't be found, he said.
Fehrer said she will try to keep the center open until after the holidays, "even if we have to donate our time."
If you'd like to help, contributions can be made to the Siggenauk Interfaith Spiritual Center, 1050 W. Lapham Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53204.
This place is really vital for a lot of the Indian community here in Milwaukee.
I don't know what can be done. Any ideas?