News Staff Writer

Beginning this Friday, many Kay County senior citizens were going to miss out on an hour of socializing and the opportunity for a free meal because of budget cuts made to the Kay County Wheatheart Nutrition program by the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services.

To deal with the budget cuts, the Wheatheart Nutrition Board decided in October that meals would not be served on Fridays at area senior centers and that homebound seniors would receive a sack lunch.

Now, because of the generosity of churches, individuals and businesses, Kay County seniors will not have their routine interrupted and their nutritional needs will continue to be met.

Tuesday, Rep. Ken Luttrell and Chris White, general manager of the Osage Nation Million Dollar Elm Casino, surprised seniors at the Ponca City Senior Citizen Center with a special announcement.

"Because of the lack of action at the state capital, I have taken an aggressive approach to this situation," said Luttrell. "This issue touches my heart. I'm excited to say that the Osage Casino has agreed to sponsor meals on Fridays for the next 10 weeks. This is the first corporate partnership on this issue."

White told the crowd that he grew up respecting his elders.

"I'm glad that we are able to help," he said. "We can do this because of our casino guests, so we are fortunate that we can give back to the community."

Fontella McAdams, director of the Ponca City Wheatheart Nutrition program, said she was happy about the arrangement with the casino.

Luttrell said Fridays will be "treat days" for the seniors.

"We hope to get the restaurants involved and maybe we can have Subway sandwiches, KFC, pizza or whatever we can work out on those days," he said.

In Blackwell, mayor Mark Cordell said the city is working with the Ministerial Alliance and individuals that are willing to donate funds to keep the Blackwell center open on Fridays.

"We had a meeting Monday with Jim Sindelar of the City of Ponca City to discuss what we can do," said Cordell. "The plan is to keep the center open until February when hopefully new legislation will occur or until we run out of money."

Sindelar said today the group talked about getting 15 churches together to help. He hopes the Ponca City seniors will be taken care of with current arrangements until February.

Brandi Atkinson, assistant director for the Area Agency on Aging, said churches in Tonkawa were banding together to keep the Tonkawa center open on Fridays.

In Newkirk, Jane Stolhand, Senior Citizen Center Director, said churches in Newkirk are working to keep Newkirk seniors eating for the next two weeks.

"We do not have a stove," said Stolhand. "But we are bringing in cookers and plan to have maybe chicken and noodles."

Luttrell said he believes the Newkirk location has received a grant for a stove and should be receiving one soon.

The budget cuts have also affected seniors in the surrounding areas.

Atkinson said that the Soup Kitchen in Enid and the City of Perry are helping out in their communities.

Also, Carl's Apple Market, in Medford will provide meals for seniors on some Fridays and the First Assembly of God Church in Pond Creek has committed to providing meals.

The McCord and Shidler seniors in Osage County will still receive a balanced meal five days a week.

Laura May of the Osage Senior Nutrition Program said the Osage program received a $92,000 cut spread out over eight months.

She said the program has stopped adding new seniors to the list of home deliveries temporarily and that some seniors have been removed from the list.

Back in Kay County, Atkinson suggested other ways that interested parties can help with the budget crisis.

"Organizations can take one Friday and supply a meal," she said. "Food distributors can donate food to be cooked by church volunteers. Donations can be used to buy meals and partner with restaurants that will discount meals and volunteers could serve them. Individuals can make donations in their parent's name to the nutrition site. Though Wheatheart staff cannot work on the days closed, the site can be opened. The meal will need to be supplied and served by volunteers as well as all food and paper goods donated."

Atkinson asks that organizations or individuals consider how they could help.

"In smaller sites like Billings, it would take around $30 to feed the whole site on a Friday and $100 in Ponca City for one of the bigger sites. Any and all assistance will be appreciated."

For information on how to help call Atkinson at 580-262-0303.

Luttrell indicated that he can be contacted at 762-6811 by interested individuals.

"The first people impacted by agency cuts are those who can least afford it," he said. "I have listened to their concerns and I am exploring every avenue to insure the continued success of this program."