Jean Chancey, who lives in Burkburnett, Texas, is SrCC site manager for Grandfield. Chancey says that they are having a hard time operating under the past cuts, but because of the new slash in funding, she sees even more difficulties in budgeting for the coming season.
"We're not planning on shutting down," says Chancey, "and as long as we can make it, we'll stretch it to the limit. We're not going up on meals, either. That would be penalizing the elderly."
State agencies have endured budget cuts for several months. Neither the Grandfield SrCC nor the Tipton SrCC is state funded. Their sites depend on money from the Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG) and the support of people from surrounding communities. ASCOG serves eight centers in the ASCOG district, two of which are in Tillman County.
The initial funding source is the Older Americans Act of 1965. Since the Tillman County centers are not state funded, they are allowed to charge for meals. Because of carry-over funds in 2002, the centers have been able to function even with the ever-increasing budget cuts.
The state's fiscal year started July 1, and center operators thought they would receive funding from the state but as of July 24 the center had not received any funding for the month of August. Shortly thereafter, the center received disheartening news. They would have to trim $7,000 from an already tight budget.
Because of funding, the center has already cut one staff worker. Now, if the center is to operate, the site will be dependent on underpaid staff and interested volunteers to cover the vacant positions, and according to Chancey, volunteers are scarce.
Marilyn Spradlin, a Grandfield supporter, says, "If we lose our center, it will be a huge loss to the community.Ý Approximately 100 to 200 citizens (all ages) eat lunch at Senior Citizens.Ý They meet to quilt, play games, socialize, enjoy special entertainment, and perform a service to the community.Ý Also, it gives the seniors a purpose in life, an incentive to get up and get dressed and go visit friends."
Tipton Site Manager Rita Gibson says, "People don't understand the difference between nutrition centers and multipurpose centers. Nutrition centers are funded by state and federal governments; multipurpose centers are self-
supporting.
"Recently," adds Gibson, "a person told me he'd heard that ASCOG is giving the Senior Citizens Centers more money and asked me if we were getting any. I had to tell him that the money they're talking about is going to nutrition centers, not to multi-purpose centers."
Multi-purpose centers serve more than just senior citizens. They are rented out to the public for such evens as birthday parties and family reunions.ÝThe seniors canÝalso receive routine medical checks andÝinformation on new laws covering their age group. Multi-purpose centers do receive some state and federal funding for utilities; however, each center must pay its own utilities and maintenance and hire a manager to be responsible for operation.
Besides Gibson, the Tipton Center has three full-time volunteers: Debbie Glen, cook; Carolyn Baldwin, cook aide; and Lorene Johnson, volunteer.
To help defray costs of operation, the Tipton SrCC at one time served Sunday meals and now has begun serving evening meals.
"So far," says Gibson, "we've had good crowds."
Recently, in an effort to attract "dinner people," the Tipton SrCC hosted special entertainer, Chuck O'Brien, Frederick, Oklahoma, chalk artist. O'Brien, a former newspaper publisher for 25 years in Gerald, Missouri, and long-time cartoonist, now spends his time presenting art programs throughout the state. Taking his one-man visual art show to libraries, private and public schools, nursing homes, children's hospitals, churches, and state correction centers, he creates chalk scenes of cartoons and moonlight magic to background instrumental music of classic country and big band.
But no matter the effort of attraction, because increased costs and lack of funding, the Tipton SrCC has had to cut their service of noon meals to three days a week.
"We've already had to increase the cost of meals once this year. We've had fundraisers, and many have made donations to keep the center open. We've had donations of food also, and were it not for the kindness of the people in the community, we would not have been able to provide meals as long as we have."
Chancey says that State Representative Don Armes, in arguing for the distribution of funds to outlying areas, reminded those present at the ASGOG meeting that the senior citizens are the ones who founded the country.
"These people," said Armes, "made the state what is and now the state doesn't want to take care of its own. They worked the fields, established the cities, and fought its battles. Now they pay their taxes, but the big cities like Tulsa and Oklahoma City get the tax money and don't believe in sharing."
Looking at the new year, both Chancey and Gibson worry about the future of small town multi-purpose centers, a great part of the heart of their communities.
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