Published: November 05, 2009 12:23 am         

Rally held to restore meal funding

Locals attending a Wednesday rally at the state Capitol protesting cuts to senior nutrition programs are hopeful something will happen soon to restore funding.

Hundreds of seniors were at the Capitol, waving empty paper plates to protest cutbacks in nutrition programs for the elderly that could eliminate thousands of meals for some of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens.

Marianne Gutierrez, Wheatheart Nutrition Project director, attended the rally and said she was encouraged by the rally and the information she received about funding.

“There sounds like there might be a turn,” she said. “What we are being told (Wednesday) is that Rainy Day Funds may be used to help. The rally today was a group of seniors gathered together from throughout the state. They told why the meals were important to them.”

State Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, attended the rally.

“They had a great crowd, several hundred, to show their concern about the senior nutrition programs,” he said. “We have some indication that the governor has been working with the director of DHS and the speaker of the House and Senate pro-tem. Hopefully, they have found a solution. Hopefully, they have found a way to fund the programs.”

The Depart-ment of Hu-man Services cut $7.4 million from senior nutrition programs after Oklahoma officials trying to cope with declining revenues ordered 5 percent cuts in the budget allocations of all state agencies.

If left in place through the end of the fiscal year June 30, AARP estimates the cuts will eliminate 780,000 meals for elderly Ok-lahomans who would have been served at their homes or at congregate meal sites.

Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, who with Sen. Tom Ivester, D-Elk City, slept on the Capitol’s south plaza Tuesday night to draw attention to the cuts, said Democratic Gov. Brad Henry met with them overnight and is committed to resolving the issue.

Under one proposal, DHS would restore the nutrition programs provided the agency receives a $7.4 million supplemental appropriation when the Legislature convenes in February, Corn said. That idea must be approved by Republican legislative leaders.

Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, said if no agreement is reached, lawmakers may convene a special session to consider tapping into the constitutional Rainy Day fund, which contains almost $600 million.

Gutierrez said if the funding is restored, plans currently in place to deal with the cuts will be suspended.

“We’ve heard partial funding maybe restored and possibly full funding,” she said. “If everything is restored, we will go back and be doing everything.”

Currently, Wheatheart Nutrition is furloughing staff members for 44 days, which means meals no longer are served on Fridays or holidays. Also, the Enid kitchen was shut down and moved to Garber because operating costs were cheaper.

“We are not discontinuing meal service to any of our sites, just they will be delivered from a different kitchen,” Gutierrez said.

The program has sites in Enid and Waukomis, among other northwest Oklahoma communities.

Gutierrez hopes the decision will be made to restore funding, but encouraged concerned people to continue to contact their elected representatives.

“We were very encouraged. We hope the rally helps the people making the decisions see how important the senior nutrition programs are,” she said. “The people who have been making contact with senators, don’t stop, even though we have good news we want to continue to be sure it happens.”

Anderson earlier had called on Henry to dedicate 5 percent of his $105 million in discretionary federal economic stimulus money for the nutrition programs. But the governor has said those funds already are committed to one-time projects.

Anderson said the nutrition programs provide many things for seniors including community and health.

“These programs provide not only meals but a sense of community and an opportunity to check on the welfare of some of the most vulnerable citizens,” he said. “These meals keep people healthy and keeps them out of the hospital and in their homes for a longer period of time. The hospitals and nursing homes are a lot more expensive to the taxpayers than the meals. The meals are important to keep the senior healthy.”

Anderson gave compliments to organizations trying to help provide meals where the nutrition programs are unable due to the funding cuts.

“There have been several communities that have stepped up to try to assist in this problem,” he said. “They need to be commended. We will hopefully have the nutrition sites up and running again soon.”

About 400 people attended Wednesday’s rally.

“It’s not right,” rally organizer Charlie Campbell said as seniors, some using wheelchairs or leaning on walking aids, crowded the Capitol rotund.

“No, it’s not,” someone in the crowd shouted back.

“This is a moral issue,” said Rebekah Williams of Sulphur, a senior advocate who became emotional as she held up a photograph of herself with her father, Marvin Reed, a World War II veteran who died two years ago at age 82.

“My dad had Alzheimer’s. If it wasn’t for the nutrition program we wouldn’t have been able to keep him home as long as we did,” Williams said.



Staff writer Kasey Fowler and The Associated Press contributed to this story.