News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | Metro Senior Meal Services Face Cuts

Metro Senior Meal Services Face Cuts

Posted: Updated:
Senior citizens at Guthrie's Logan County Aging Services eat a meal. Senior citizens at Guthrie's Logan County Aging Services eat a meal.
Some senior meal services had to shut down completely due to the cuts. Some senior meal services had to shut down completely due to the cuts.
Lawmakers sit in session to discuss the problems with cuts. Lawmakers sit in session to discuss the problems with cuts.

By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

GUTHRIE, Oklahoma – It has not been a good start to the month for thousands of senior citizens across Oklahoma. Many of them are homebound and depend on meals delivered to their door. But, millions of dollars to fund these types of programs have been cut by state agencies.

The cuts were made to make up for shortfalls in these agencies' budgets. One such program hit hard already has a lot of seniors looking for a place to get a hot meal.

The Logan County Aging Services in Guthrie's routine includes packing up meals and getting them ready to be delivered to senior citizens in their homes.

"Well, it certainly has helped me because it was at home and I can't see to cook and I have a hard time hearing," Betty Action said.

Betty Acton, 85, got on the program over the summer, but she was just notified last week that she can no longer get the meals delivered. Her daughter, who lives in Edmond, brought her in Monday to see if anything could be done.

"We were absolutely shocked," said Action's daughter, Linda Wrede. "This is such a needy program and such an important program for so many people."

It is an important program for people like 77-year-old Earnest Tyson who is homebound.

"It's wonderful, a good meal," said Tyson. "If they cut me off I don't know what I'm gonna do."

The program is run by the Department of Human Services. The agency cut $7.4 million from it to make up for revenue shortfalls.

The people in Guthrie had to drop more than half of their 60 clients from getting meals at home.

"All of our people needed the meals or they wouldn't have been on in the first place, but we had to make cuts somewhere," Lashelle Ratcliff with Logan County Aging Services said.

For many of their clients the home delivery is also the only interaction they get with the public on a daily basis, so it also serves as a wellness check.

State Senator Kenneth Corn has called for lawmakers to come back in session to fix the problem or have DHS find cuts elsewhere.

"I believe we are judged upon how we take care of our young people and our senior citizens," said Sen. Corn. "At this point, I'd say the legislature is getting an 'F' for our efforts here."

You must be logged in to rate this story. Login or register
Comments
Terms of Use: Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. In addition, by submitting a comment, you recognize that your comment may be read or discussed on one or more television news broadcasts on NEWS 9 and you consent to any such use. By submitting a comment, you agree to these Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register
See all comments
Close windowBranding

Metro Senior Meal Services Face Cuts

Close window

Local News More>>

Man Accused of Killing Sunday School Teacher Suspect in Other Crimes

The sex offender accused of murdering a Spencer woman outside her Midwest City church is facing other accusations too. More>>

Search Ends After Missing Boy Shows Up at School

A search for a missing Oklahoma City boy has ended after the boy showed up at school, police said. More>>

Concrete Falls from New Devon Parking Garage

Several large columns of concrete fell from the expanding parking garage at the Devon Tower construction site. More>>

Putnam City Asks to Push Back Standardized Testing After Snow Days

The possibility of more winter storms could mean more snow days for Oklahoma schools. Now, teachers are worried if students will be prepared for the upcoming standardized tests. More>>

Links Mentioned On NEWS 9 More>>

The Faces of Unemployment in Oklahoma

Frequently unemployment is merely reported as a statistic, but the Oklahoma Impact Team is taking a closer look at the people behind the numbers. More>>

Oklahoma ranks as the third worst state for women due to high rates of domestic violence, teen pregnancy and incarcerated women. The Oklahoma Women's Coalition is working to change that. More>>

The Junior League of Norm is sponsoring the Healthy Smiles exhibit at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History on Sunday, February 7 from 1-5 p.m. as part of National Children's Dental Health month. More>>

Will Bible Classes Be Taught in Public High Schools?

High schools across the state could begin offering an elective course in the study of the Bible under a measure approved by a Senate committee. More>>

My 2 Cents

Catch Kelly Ogle's opinion on today's news and events!

Making A Difference

People that make a difference in your everyday life.

Consumer Watch

Find relevant information on the latest products!

Your Vote Counts

Debates on issues important to you the viewer!

Tech Talk

Fast facts on technology for today's consumer!

Stay informed on all of Oklahoma's weather.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000-2010, WorldNow and KWTV. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Help Page.