DIW: Strong and Still Rising

Did you know that the Department of Indian Work has a special birthday coming up? 

In Interfaith Action’s upcoming fiscal year (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027), DIW is marking 70 years of impact, cultivating community, and supporting families toward economic mobility and cultural healing. We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone year together and look forward to sharing more about what’s instore. In the meantime, you can help lay the foundation for DIW’s ongoing success and sustain its essential services to the community during a time of heightened challenges. 

Why now? 

In addition to the upcoming anniversary, DIW and the community we serve are navigating a lot right now. Inflation and other economic pressures have resulted in increased food shelf usage and distribution needs. 

• In December alone, just after two months of anxiety that SNAP benefits were being shut off, the food shelf served 1,752 individuals and distributed over 27,500lbs of food. 
• With the fear and insecurity of intense immigration enforcement hitting our community hard, the food shelf team quickly adapted its service model to better support families unable to leave their homes. This commitment to responsiveness has led to a complete shift in the food shelf’s hours, providing more time for trusted staff to deliver necessities to families. 
• Each spring, we participate in the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign, the largest grassroots food and fund drive in the state. This campaign brings together organizations, businesses, faith communities, and individuals to help stock and support the capacity of nearly 300 food shelves. It’s a great time of year to join this community effort by providing flexible financial support to DIW! 
• As we gear up for a milestone year, it’s time to spread the word far and wide about the importance of DIW to the Greater Saint Paul Native and broader communities. By supporting (and sharing!) this crowdfunded campaign, you add your voice to the important story we have to tell. 

Why DIW? 

If DIW has touched your life in any way over the past 70 years, you know that it is so much more than a food shelf. Yes, we’re talking about the positive identity-boosting of American Indian Youth Enrichment, health-transformations of the Family Education Diabetes Series (FEDS), and personalized family goal coaching of the Economic Mobility Hub. We’re also talking about being part of the story of a family for generations, lifting up Native joy, sustaining intergenerational culture-building, and countless other positive impacts that can’t be contained to a grant application or appeal letter. 

Why you? 

DIW has always been about community, and community is about the people who do their part to support one another. Some of these people are the 5,500 individuals served by DIW programs last year. Some are the small but mighty staff who ensure that our services are delivered with quality and care. Some are the volunteers who support the work by stocking shelves, greeting guests, or sharing their wisdom. But just as important to this story are the people who give what they can—whether it's $500 or $5—to keep DIW running strong. We need those people now, and as we set a course for our next 70 years. Join us!