In early 2012 the seniors in Verden, OK were notified that their nutrition site was going to lose Older Americans Act funding as a result of diminishing population in the area. The senior nutrition program at Delta realized a reduction in OAA funding in the amount of over $144 thousand. But this senior center had a plan.
Boosted by support from the citizens of Grady County in the form of a recently passed sales tax as well as the determination of their young site manager, Eddie Cowan, the seniors agreed to form an independent oversight board and take over the responsibility of cooking their own food. In the past, meals were prepared in Anadarko and delivered to the site every day. Now when the seniors walk in, they are greeted with the smell of baked breads and desserts. As a result of the county sales tax, Cowan along with one cook are now county employees.
As federal dollars are expected to wane in coming years, more senior centers are being encouraged to take over their meal programs. For the seniors at Cottonwood, they are happy with the changes. One participant commented on the fact that the food tastes home-cooked, now. Now they can have fried okra instead of oven-baked. They can have cookies baked right in their center.
The Cottonwood Center is also supported by the Association of South Central Governments through a state-funded grant called CENA. The $10 thousand Community Expansion for Nutrition Assistance grant will not cover all of their needs, but it will give them a hand-up in becoming independent from the federally funded program they were a part of for over 30 years.
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