Volume 3, Issue 1

Spring 2012 D e l t a C o m m u n i t y A c t i o n F o u n d a t i o n , I n c

Delta Collaborates with Habitat 1

Food Drive 2

Volunteer Spotlight 2

Prescription Assistance 3

Grant Management Training 3

Head Start News / Retirement 4

FGP Recognition Dinner 5

Congratulations 5

Remembering 5

Karen’s Korner 6

This Issue

The Delta Difference

Garvin, McClain, and Stephens Counties

Karen Nichols, Executive Director

Programs

Foster Grandparents Mynan Hutto, Director Head Start/Early Head Start Sharon Horton, Director Housing Jackie Perry, Director Rx for Oklahoma Becky Deaton, Coordinator Senior Nutrition Dan Lowrance, Director Transportation Susan Coldwater, Director VITA Free Income Tax Prep. Becky Deaton, Coordinator Weatherization Lynn McCurdy, Director

Delta Community Action Founda-

tion is partnering with Central

Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity

to bring 31 new homes to the

Blanchard area. The homes will

be located on Highway 76 in the

newly redesigned Shellibrook

addition.

Limited-income families who are

willing to make monthly mortgage

payments and partner with

Habitat by contributing 300 hours

of "sweat equity" through work on

the construction sites or other

Habitat offices should consider

completing an application.

All new construction will be 2 to 4

bedroom, 2 bath, brick homes

with single car garages. Three

existing homes, one brick and

two modular, in the Shellibrook

addition will also be available

from Central Oklahoma Habitat

for Humanity. Anyone interested

in purchasing one of the existing

homes previously built by Delta

Community Action Foundation will

need to qualify for a loan through

a lender of their choice. All future

construction in the Shellibrook

addition will be financed through

Habitat.

To receive an application, contact

Central Oklahoma Habitat for

Humanity at 405-232-4828 or

Delta Community

Action Housing

Director, Jackie Perry,

at 405-756-1100.

Delta Housing Director—Jackie Perry, Habi-

tat for Humanity ‘s- Ann Felton, and Delta

Executive Director—Karen Nichols

PAGE 2 THE D EL TA D IFFER ENC E

Lee Brown has certainly logged-in his share of volunteer hours over the years. After retiring from Oklahoma School for the Deaf, Lee’s honey-do list seemed to grow rapidly.

You see, Lee’s wife, Mary, has worked with the Head Start program for more than 20 years. Thankfully, Lee has been more than willing to pitch-in here and there when needed. Lee has always given freely of his spare time doing everything from light maintenance to refinishing furniture.

Thanks, Lee! Your caring and giving nature has helped many children throughout the years. Thank you for making a difference.

Doug Dodson from Comanche Senior

Nutrition is shown picking up an order

from the Regional Food Bank of Ok.

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma plays a pivotal role in helping

Delta Community Action provide services to clients. Delta receives food

supplies from the Regional Food Bank to help stock food pantries in

Pauls Valley and Purcell, as well as to prepare meals for clients utilizing

Delta’s Senior Nutrition Program.

Many households recently participated in the “Letter Carriers Food

Drive” sponsored by the Regional Food Bank and the United States

Postal Service on May 12. Delta’s food pantries in Pauls Valley and

Purcell both benefitted from this extensive community effort.

Delta would like to thank everyone who donated to this worthy cause.

Your kindness and compassion will help many families in our service

area.

PAGE 3 THE D EL TA D IFFER ENC E

The current economy is stressful on everyone at times. However, no one is feeling

the crunch more than those without health insurance. Many people try to save

money by halving prescriptions, skipping doses, or by not purchasing important medicines altogether.

Rx for Oklahoma, a program working to solve the problem, reported that 17% of Oklahoman's do not have

insurance or can't afford to purchase medicines. The program, administered through Delta Community

Action Foundation, helps people who are uninsured or underinsured received free or low-cost prescrip-

tions.

According to Delta's Rx for Oklahoma Coordinator, Becky Deaton, 22.9% of the

27,553 people living in Garvin County are uninsured, while 26% of the 34,506

people in McClain County have no health insurance. "These statistics are a

little higher than the state average. We want to make sure everyone has

heard about this prescription assistance program. Anyone can apply, there is

no age limit, and there is no charge for the services," stated Deaton.

Rx for Oklahoma staff will assist you with completion of applications and docu-

mentation required for submission. The entire process takes approximately

one month to complete so only long term medications will qualify.

For more information about Rx for Oklahoma please contact Becky Deaton at

405-527-6537. Rx for Oklahoma applications may be picked up at any Delta

Community Action office.

Prescription Drug Assistance

Karen Nichols and Tina Tucker recently participated in Grants Management System Training sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The instruction was held at OKACAA's new Weatherization Training Center in Edmond.

Community Action agencies across the state will soon be interacting with ODOC through an online user interface when dealing with various aspects of our work such as ordering money, submitting reports, grant applications, and much more.

The new system will be more efficient and fairly easy to adapt to.

PAGE 4 THE D EL TA D IFFER ENC E

The Head Start/Early Head Start program underwent a Federal Review April 2-6. A special thanks is given to board member, Howard Huey, for being present during the opening interview on April 2. We would also like to say thank you to Darrell Ford, Shorty Foster, Kay Foster, Todd Hinckley, Jacob Collingsworth, and Marion Lennox for granting the team leader an interview. Sharon and her HS/EHS staff go above and beyond to make sure Delta's Head Start program is one of the very best in Oklahoma. They deserve a pat on the back for dedication and hard work.

Delta Head Start Education Manager, Mary Brown, retired after 23 years with Delta Head Start.

Co-workers and management staff gathered at the Lindsay CAP office on May 2, to recog-nize and thank Mary for her enormous contribution to the program.

We would like to wish Mary much joy and happiness in her retirement.

PAGE 5 THE D EL TA D IFFER ENC E

The Foster Grandparent program held its annual recognition dinner in Duncan last month. Several area lawmakers were on hand to help honor FGP volunteers. Representative, Joe Dorman, told KSWO Chan-nel 7 News in Lawton about the importance of the program. Also in attendance were Repre-

sentative Dennis Johnson and Senator Randy Bass. FGP Director, Mynan Hutto, did a fabulous job in choosing this year's guest speaker, Ben Dickerson, PHD. It was truly a delight to see so many people in support of this wonderful pro-gram.

Those we love don't go away,

They walk beside us every day,

Unseen, unheard, but always near,

Still loved, still missed and very dear.

Pat Harlan

Dorothy Holt

Anna McCall

Mary Hambrick

Brigham Conner

Congratulations to Marjorie Shults for re-ceiving Southern Oklahoma Development

Association’s Perry Anderson Award.

Chisholm Belicek, 13, son of Delta Head Start teacher Monica Belicek, placed third in the statewide Ag in the Classroom essay contest.

308 S.W. 2nd

Lindsay, OK 73052

Delta Community Action

Foundation, Inc.

Karen’s Korner The Executive Exclusive

Phone: 405.756.1100

Fax: 405.756.1104

deltacommunityaction.org

Board Members

Garvin

Rex Carlton

Howard Huey

Todd Hinckley

Kenneth Holden

Shon Richardson

David Wall

McClain

Kerri Carwile

Darrell Ford

Charles Foster

Kay Foster

Wilson Lyles

Rodney Powers

Stephens

Dee Bowen

Janice Graham

Jo Johnson

Marion Lennox

Darrell Sparks

Karen Nichols

Executive Director

Community Action originated in 1964 as part of Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty." Today, there are more than 1000 Community Actions agencies across the United States serving millions of people in need. It is such a blessing to be part of an organization that advocates for people in crisis as well as the working poor, children, and the elderly. Although much success has been made in the war on poverty during the last 48 years, much more can be done to strengthen communities and families. The entire month of May is celebrated as National Community Action month. We like to use this as an opportunity to bring attention to poverty related issues in the area. Community Action continues to wage "War on Poverty" in the midst of de-creased funding and extreme budget cuts. I urge you to become active in your communities, volunteer your time, and donate when possible. Together, we can make a difference.