Tribal council makes a difference

If there was ever any doubt in the minds of the members of the Knik Tribal Council about whether or not they are appreciated, the answer came early Wednesday afternoon.

As volunteers and members put together food baskets and loaded them into the vehicles of people in need, one visitor stood out. She was there to pick up the goods to make her Thanksgiving meal for her family, only there was no vehicle to load it in.

She had hitch-hiked all the way from Palmer to Wasilla for the meal, and was ready to hitch-hike back -- with two food baskets, including a 10-pound turkey, under her arm -- when a member of the council gave her a ride home.

The woman wasn't going to ask for a ride home, because sometimes, asking for things is the hardest part of being in need.

"When you hear stories like that, you know you are doing good for people," said Carol Theodore, the president and executive director of the Knik Tribal Council. "And we hear stories like this all the time."

The holiday food basket program was a rousing success, with more than 300 families being served last week.

Helping others is part of the Knik Tribal Council mission, and not just at Thanksgiving -- although that is when the most families get served, all at once.

"I feel like Santa Claus being able to give these families food when they need it most," said Caleb Aldeman, president and CEO of Alaska Guestours. Aldeman volunteers with the council in handing out food baskets.

The Knik Tribal Council works out of a building in Wasilla, but their reach extends throughout the Valley. Through a number of programs, the organization is making a difference in the Native community, Theodore said.

"We've tried to create a family-first atmosphere. A place to feel comfortable and welcome," Theodore said.

The office, located behind the Dollar Store in Wasilla, is a one-stop shop for social programs and educational opportunity for KTC members. It's a place where members can learn about the many programs offered to both members and non-members. The lobby has a library with a wide range of books, and the receptionist has information on a number of programs. There are staff members working who can help people with each one of the programs.

While some people know about some of the programs, Theodore said not many people know about all the programs offered by KTC.

Take housing, for example.

KTC members can apply for help and have their house brought up to code and make it more livable.

"We are talking about modernization and renovations, not building somebody their dream home," Theodore said. "Some of the homes people are living in are unbelievable. Through our housing program, we are trying to help people get adequate plumbing, adequate electricity and a place they can live safely."

Raising awareness of the programs has become a priority.

"Some members don't apply for the programs because they've been told 'no' before by other agencies," said Rosie Choquette, an administrative assistant with KTC.

Theodore agrees with that assessment.

"Our rules are different than other agencies' rules. We aren't Cook Inlet Housing Authority. We're not CIRI. We are our own agency, with our own rules," Theodore said. "We're excited to help people."

Helping people is paramount during the holidays, and even though Thanksgiving is over, the programs at KTC aren't. A toy drive is being organized by Chris Flowers, and it's a program she holds dear to her heart every year.

"Chris always does the toy drive. She's our cute little Santa's helper," said Choquette.

Making sure every child has a toy this Christmas is the main mission of Flowers' toy drive.

"It doesn't have to be anything extravagant, but just something for a child to open on Christmas," said Jennifer Raschke, who works with KTC. "We want to make sure every child gets a Christmas toy."

A new program being offered by the Knik Tribal Council is the "Family of the Month" program. Families will apply for the program, and after an interview process, one family each month will be selected as the "Family of the Month."

That family will get to go on a shopping spree at Costco or Sam's Club in Anchorage, and get all the basic necessities.

It's another case of the tribal council trying to help the less fortunate, Theodore said.

"People take for granted a lot of things," Theodore said. "But when you don't have the basics, you appreciate things more.

"Everybody working here has needed help at one time or another. They know what it feels like," Theodore said. "They are helping others because they have been helped at one time."

The council gets a lot of referrals from other agencies, Choquette said.

"Other agencies know we can help," Choquette said. "We get referrals from the senior centers for Natives there because sometimes our programs are more than the senior centers can offer them."

For more information about the many social programs offered by the Knik Tribal Council, interested people can contact Theodore at 373-7991.