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CAAs partner with community groups to help families during the holidays
   Community Action Agencies across Oklahoma are mobilizing to help make sure low-income families have a happy holiday season.
   INCA Community Services Murray County Coordinator Doris Donaho is working with local churches, businesses, youth and civic groups to box up the fixings for 150 Thanksgiving dinners.
   “People are just glad to do it,” Donaho said. “It gives you a real good feeling.”
Wal-Mart provides funding to purchase the turkeys while local Boy Scouts collect veggies, Donaho said.
   Local churches in Sulphur donate fruit and cake mixes and the Kiwanis add pecan pies.
   In Enid, Kibby Rose, Assistant Director for the Community Development Support Association’s Family Center, is working through the Church Resource Council to provide Christmas for families not served by other groups.
   The Council was created in 2001 by CDSA for coordinating services in the community.
Fifteen churches are supporting the program. They will provide gifts and food to those who are not served by other groups.
   At the Great Plains Improvement Foundation’s C. Carter Crane Emergency Homeless Shelter in Lawton, there will be large meals planned for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Local businesses will be helping make sure there are gifts for all clients staying at the shelter.
   Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma/Canadian Counties acts as a referral agency for several programs, explained Ann Ricketts.
   The agency works with the Salvation Army Toy Store, The Christmas Connection, Presbyterian Urban Mission, Cross & Crown Ministries, Del City First Southern Baptist Church, Santa Cause, Yukon Sharing, El Reno Blessing Baskets and the VFW in El Reno. The various organizations provide toys, clothing and food baskets.

Story Board wins national competition
   Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group was winner for Region VI in the national Story Board competition sponsored by the Community Action Partnership in New York City.
   The story board was titled “America’s Promise” to incorporate the theme of the national conference and depicted the Statute of Liberty on one side.
   In the center, Southwest highlighted three accomplishments this past year: Cell-Phones for Seniors Program, Farmworker Housing Groundbreaking and the new Head Start center in Granite.

Microsoft donation updates Cookson Hills computer system
   Microsoft Corporation has donated nearly $130,000 in computer equipment and software to Cookson Hills Community Action Foundation.
   The agency received complete sets of Microsoft’s latest operating systems, office productivity suites, servers, and educational software along with mice and keyboards for all systems in the agency, said Steven Williams, Systems Administrator.
   “For the first time, everyone will be using the same software and operating system,” Williams said.
   This is one of the most significant technological steps for this organization in pursuit of automating the processes of this agency, Williams noted.
   In addition to the office software, the agency received 96 copies of the Magic School Bus software used in the Head Start program.
   He pointed out that one of the greatest costs to any organization’s technology team is acquiring quality software for all employees and for a nonprofit agency this means that employees usually have to use out-dated software.
   “Microsoft really helped us out,” Williams added. “They are a very community-friendly organization.”
With standard software now being used throughout the agency, staff will be more productive because they will be using standardized, stable and effective software.
   “Everything is current,” Williams noted.
   The equipment and software will be spread out in the headquarters office in Tahlequah, in 32 Head Start centers in four counties, and in two remote offices in Westville and Sallisaw, Williams said.
   This is not the first time Microsoft has helped out Cookson Hills. About two years ago the company provided about $50,000 worth of software to the agency, Williams said.

Little Dixie gets grant for technology infrastructure
   Little Dixie Community Action Agency has been awarded a $25,000 grant to purchase technology infrastructure for its business information centers.
   Executive Director Bob Yandell was presented the check from SBC Southwestern Bell, the Hugo Daily News reported.
   The technology will be used to provide citizens with job preparation tools, career awareness and job training opportunities.

CARD is ‘Rockin’ for literacy
   Washington and Nowata counties are in the process of acquiring donations of “rocking chairs” for the Community Action Resource & Development (CARD) Head Start Centers.
   The rocking chairs will benefit retired and community volunteers by providing a comfortable place to read to the children.
   Bartlesville East II Head Start has already received one rocking chair from the Cracker Barrel
   In addition, Pryor lumber and Lowes have donated wood to make small rocking chairs for each classroom. The small rocking chairs will enable the children to become “reading buddies” with the community volunteers.
   Source: C.A.R.D. Head Start Newsletter, October 2002.

Community Action Agencies support Resource Rally
   The Atoka/Coal County Partnership for Change recently sponsored a Resource Rally that drew more than 600 people.
   INCA Community Services and Big Five Community Services are members of the group whose mission is to increase the number of eligible families who access food nutrition services in the two counties, according to LaQuita Thornley, Atoka County Coordinator.
   There were 15 booths promoting nutritional programs and a free lunch was served.
Coalition members include the county offices for the Health Departments, Department of Human Services, Choctaw Nation WIC program, OSU Extension Center, School Lunch programs along with INCA and Big 5.

Great Plains helps provide free medical clinic in Lawton
   Great Plains Improvement Foundation is part of a collaborative effort to provide a free medical clinic in Lawton for those unable to get medical care, the Lawton Constitution reports.
   A City of Lawton grant provided to Great Plains is paying the start-up costs for the project. Great Plains also donated two exam tables.
   “The people we want to take care of are people without Medicare or insurance,” said Dr. Wendy Bartanen.
   The clinic began operation in October and is open one Thursday a month. Eventually the clinic will be open one evening per week.
   The Great Plains Volunteer Health Clinic is being housed in a local church.
   A committee of volunteers is working with businesses and other organizations in the community to provide equipment, medicine, medical supplies and personnel to operate the clinic.

INCA sponsors motorcycle rides to benefit kids
   INCA Community Services Marshall County office in Madill is sponsoring a pair a motorcycle rides to provide food and toys during the holiday season.
   More than 100 motorcycle, auto and even transit buses are expected to participate in the “Toy Run” from Kingston to Madill.
   Each rider brings a new, unwrapped toy, explained Nelda Cobb, County Coordinator. INCA then distributes the toys during the holidays to children of income eligible families.
   At the conclusion of the event, riders are treated to lunch provided by community groups.
   INCA also works with the Marine Corp’s Toys for Tots program. For each application approved by INCA for a gift, the Toys for Tots program provides another gift.
   The second event is a “Poker Run” which raises funds to provide holiday meals and gifts.
   The cyclists pay a registration fee to participate, Cobb explained. During the ride, the participants stop at five local businesses where they receive a card.
   At the end of the ride, the persons with the high and the low hands each get 25% of the money from the registration, with the other half going to the Santa Elves program.
   Last year, INCA served 120 families meals and provided 450 children with gifts, Cobb said.

COCAA hosts rodeo to fund programs
   Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency’s (COCAA) Stillwater Rodeo raised more than $7,000 in funds for agency-sponsored programs. 
   The International Pro Rodeo Association event was held at Pokers Arena in Stillwater in August. “Community support is the key for an event such as this,” said COCAA Board Chair, Gloria Hesser. COCAA serves the Stillwater area through its Health Clinics and pharmacy, shelter and transitional housing programs, and emergency services.       “The community’s investment and support in fundraising activities goes right back into their community in the form of needed services,” Hesser added.
   The evening before the rodeo, 80 people attended a fundraising dinner at the White Barn Hospitality House. The “Boots and Bandanas Benefit Dinner” boasted a prime rib meal with all the trimmings, in honor of the event. All proceeds from the dinner were donated to the Stillwater Community Health center, the Mission of Hope and COCAA’s crisis intervention services. 
   Source: COCAA Quotes & Notes, August-September, 2002

Funding awarded for elderly housing
   Little Dixie Community Action Agency has been awarded a $1.14 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant to construct 20 one-bedroom units for very low income elderly, the Hugo Daily News reports.
   The Section 202 grant also provides a $268,000 rental subsidy. Little Dixie is partnering with the Hugo Public Housing Authority and the City of Hugo for the project. The Public Housing Authority will manage the project.
   Construction on the project is expected to begin in the spring of 2003.

‘Castle of Terror’ raises funds for youth holiday gifts
   Deep Fork Community Action and the 4-H Club in Okmulgee have teamed up to sponsor a haunted house to raise money to provide Christmas gifts to low-income teens in rural Oklahoma.
   The Castle of Terror is the creation of Deep Fork Executive Director Jeff Schuman. Deep Fork is using proceeds from the haunted house to purchase wrist watches to distribute in rural communities in Okmulgee, Okfuskee, McIntosh and Hughes counties.
    Erected in the OSU Extension building and open four nights around Halloween, the Castle of Terror is a year-round project for Schuman.
   “I just like Halloween,” Schuman declared. “This is my hobby,” he added. Schuman estimates he spends an average of 10-12 hours weekly throughout the year building items for the Castle of Terror. He takes annual leave the final week before Halloween to erect it.
   Schuman figures he has $10,000 - $12,000 in props. He has filled a 20 foot by 20 foot storage shed on the property and is now beginning to store props in the garage. In addition to his time, Schuman also purchases materials to create many of the props.
   “I scrounge everywhere,” Schuman said. He picked up plywood being discarded from a construction site to build caskets. “I buy stuff at flea markets. I’m not afraid of pulling things out of the junkyard,” he added.
   Businesses in the community have kicked in their support. Cash, supplies, promotional help, food, and volunteers have all been donated to help make the Castle of Terror a reality.
   The 30-person crew that staffs the Castle of Terror comes from Deep Fork staff, 4-H kids, and the local community. One man just shows up every year bringing his own costume and volunteers to be a part of the show. “We always have enough people,” Schuman said.
   The Castle of Terror features are constantly changing to keep it fresh. Major scenes this year include the Mad Scientist Lab, Witches Kitchen, Egyptian Tomb, Electric Chair, and Economy Sausage Company.
   “I built this. This is my art. Everything you see, I have built,” Schuman declares as he wanders down one of the passages created by black plastic sheets.
   Ideas for a prop are likely to come from anywhere. Schuman prows the Internet for inspiration, watches horror movies and even checks out other haunted houses. A graphic new scene in this year’s Castle is the Severed Head Alley and was triggered by a scene in the movie Mummy 2.
   The Castle of Terror is targeted at youths 11-14, but all ages come and walk through the corridors that feature 12 major scenes. Deep Fork charges $5 per person, but has been known to refund money if a child comes back out too scared to continue through the entire castle.
   Everyone does stuff for little kids around Christmas time, but nobody does anything for the junior high age youth, Schuman said. Last year with proceeds from the event, Deep Fork purchased 220 watches. Schuman divided them among the four counties in the Deep Fork service area and told his county coordinators to go to the rural schools. The school principals were asked to distribute the watches to teens they thought wouldn’t be getting much during the holidays.
   Schuman said he realizes if he spent as much time applying for grants and other fund-raising activities, he would probably raise more money for the agency. But, it wouldn’t be as much fun.
   “This is our thing to do,” Schuman concluded.

INCA moving into new offices in Sulphur
   After spending more than 15 years in a City of Sulphur-provided building at the Skills Center, INCA Communities Services is moving its Murray County offices into its own building.
   INCA initially moved a modular building onto the site, but quickly discovered it didn’t provide enough space.
   The nearly 1,800 square foot county office building will house a food and clothing pantry, Murray County Coordinator Mary Donaho, transportation office, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program staff member, three Head Start program staffers and additional support staff.
   Two buildings housing Head Start classes are located adjacent to the center.
   Donaho says she is looking forward to moving into the new building, but plans for the upcoming holidays are providing challenges.
   While trying to get packed up for the move, INCA is putting together 150 food baskets to distribute at Thanskgiving. With help from local churches, businesses, youth groups and service organizations, the food baskets are slated to go out the day before Thanksgiving.
   Executive Director Bill Buck says the move to the new site has been in the planning process for over a year. The site for the new buildings is near the city’s high school.

OKACAA’s Winter Conference offers variety of training
   Training sessions are planned for Head Start and housing staff members, county coordinators, planners and others during the Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies’ Winter Conference scheduled for Dec. 4-6 at the Doubletree at Warren Place in Tulsa. For registration information, call 405-524-4124.
   Carolyn Shaw, Head Start Director for Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma/Canadian Counties, will provide training for parents of Head Start children.
   “Using Alternative Construction to Meet Your Affordable Housing Needs” will focus on factory built homes. Scheduled speakers include Bill Johnson, President of Housing 2000, Inc.; Chris Robinson, Genesis Division of Champion Homes; and Greg Russell, Project Manager for the Modular Division of Champion Homes.
   Guy Hammond from Great Plains Improvement Foundation is scheduled to provide “Lead Base Paint Training.”
Oklahoma Department of Commerce staff will facilitate a “Weatherization Roundtable.”
   County coordinators can learn about the “Community of Promise” positive youth development program from Mary Ann Overall at Northeast Oklahoma Community Action, Renee Hoover at Community Development Support Association and Teresa Williams from Southwest Oklahoma Community Group.
   “Disability Awareness” will be discussed by Carla Lawson, Executive Director, and Tara Brown, Mobility Counselor, Abilities Resources, Inc.
   Other sessions planned for the county coordinators include “Outreaching to Hispanics, Immigrants and Refugees” and a presentation on the Oklahoma Employment Securities Commission Employment Data Base by Jon Eller.
   How to use new census data for writing grants and doing needs assessment will be discussed by Jeff Wallace, Program Director, Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
   Planners can also attend a presentation by Byron and Wanda DeBruler of DeBruler, Inc., titled “The Balancing Act:   Translating the Needs Assessment” which will center on how to use data research to prove need for a project.
   They will also discuss how to calculate match and leverage requirements.
   “Public Relations: Telling the Community Action Story” will be discussed by Kay Wood, Public Relations Director, KI BOIS Community Action; Bill Shields, Executive Director, Central Oklahoma Community Action; Brent Morey, Executive Director of Community Action Development Corporation; and Bob Brandenburg, Communications Director, OKACAA. Other sessions will focus on:
   • Establishing an “IRS Tax Filing Assistance Program” to be presented by Jean Cooper, Executive Director, Northeast Oklahoma Community Action
   • The “Self Sufficiency Study” that examines the income working families need to meet basic necessities without public or private assistance to be presented by David Blatt at the Community Action Project of Tulsa County
   • A ROMA roundtable presentation on “Funnel Updates for New CSBG Applications” facilitated by Martin Roberts from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
   The opening general session will feature Ronda Mikles from Mikles Marketing & Management discussing “Getting It All Done Without Getting Undone in the Process.”

Community Action transit drivers participate in Bus Roadeo
   Community Action Agency transit drivers were among those participating in the 13th Annual Oklahoma Bus Operators Roadeo held in October.
   Sponsored by the Oklahoma Transit Association, the competition required drivers to transverse a timed obstacle course with 11 different vehicle maneuvers. The obstacle course is designed to mimic maneuvers that drivers must perform daily.
   KI BOIS Community Action Foundation provided the eight vehicles used in the competition.
   Besides offering a chance for competition, the Roadeo was a training exercise that measures a bus driver’s skills behind the wheel, knowledge of safety regulations and familiarity with vehicle equipment.
   The state champion bus driver will represent Oklahoma at the National Paratransit Roadeo during May 2003 in Salt Lake City , sponsored by the Community Transit Association of America.