James Coburn
EDMOND — A special fund will allow the City of Edmond to reopen its Senior Nutrition Program next Tuesday, Mayor Patrice Douglas said.
“It will be three days a week (on) Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for an interim period,” Douglas said. “Historically, these have been the busiest days of the week for the senior nutrition program.”
The program had operated five days a week before an order by the Areawide Aging Agency cut Edmond’s senior nutrition program by $53,000, enough to end the program on Nov. 1, said Gail Deaton, executive director of the Edmond Senior Center.
A state budget cut of $173,000 diminished the Oklahoma County Senior Nutrition Program. Of the 27 senior nutrition sites in the county, Douglas said Edmond is absorbing one-third of the cost cuts.
A special fund has been created so donations of money can be given to offset the Areawide Aging Agency’s abandonment of Edmond’s senior nutrition program.
“We are raising funds privately while we seek other alternatives for federal or state funding. This is great news,” Douglas said. “We are excited about our re-opening. Several of our local organizations have agreed to step forward and help in this fund drive.”
Douglas is encouraging private donors to blend with the public funds. Oklahoma Christian University will donate funds collected at three basketball games this month, she said. State Rep. Marian Cooksey, R-Edmond, said she has been contacting local churches interested in helping hungry seniors as part of their outreach programs.
An average of 85 seniors a day ate the free meals at the Edmond Senior Center in 2008. This number would sometimes swell to 115 before the Areawide Aging Agency capped the site to feed only 65 people daily, Deaton said.
Deaton said the Areawide Aging Agency must wait until the state Legislature reconvenes in February to learn if any state funding will enhance the senior nutrition program.
“Our conversations with state officials and vendors have continued,” Douglas said. “In our conversations, Edmond continues to emphasize that we are not asking to be ‘held harmless’ in this time of budget cuts, but are working toward building stronger private involvement to blend with the public funds.”
State Rep. Lewis H. Moore, R-Edmond, told The Edmond Sun that he is proud the community has stepped up to care for those in need.
“Meanwhile, we are still very disappointed that the Areawide Aging Agency hasn’t been able to manage this budget crisis in a manner to protect those they are charged with serving.”
He said appropriations subcommittees are already discussing ways to fund DHS agencies during the next legislative session.
jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114
