Volume 3, Issue 2

Fall 2012 D e l t a C o m m u n i t y A c t i o n F o u n d a t i o n , I n c

Annual Fan Drive 1

Head Start News 2

Lifetime of Service 3

Winter Warmth—Stuff the Bus 3

Senior Nutrition Approval 4

Pleasant View Playground 4

Delta Employees Honored 5

This Issue

The Delta Difference

Garvin, McClain, and Stephens Counties

Karen Nichols, Executive Director

Programs Foster Grandparents Mynan Hutto, Director Head Start/Early Head Start Sharon Horton, Director Housing Jackie Perry, Director Rx for Oklahoma Becky Deaton, Coordinator Senior Nutrition Dan Lowrance, Director Transportation Susan Coldwater, Director Weatherization Lynn McCurdy, Director

Delta Community Action’s annual

fan drive reached goals above

and beyond expectations again

this summer.

Local citizens and organizations

in the tri-county area donated

approximately $2,500 as well as

numerous fans allowing Delta

CAF to distribute more than 250

fans to those in need.

“We would like to take this

opportunity to thank those who

contributed for their kindness

and generosity,” said Executive

Director, Karen Nichols. “Most of

our clients live on fixed incomes,

and box fans really seem to help

cut energy cost as well as keep

people cool.”

The fan drive kicked off in mid-

June and continued strong until

late August.

If you would like to learn more

about the many programs Delta

has to offer, please call our

offices or visit our

website today.

PAGE 2 THE D EL TA D IFFER ENC E

Has Head Start changed your life?

Delta Community Action is thrilled to sponsor

this remarkable program.

Send us your story today.

deltacommunityaction@gmail.com

Delta Head Start/Early Head Start

students have been enjoying many

fall festivities this season.. Several

classes have visited pumpkin

patches while others participated

in fall carnivals and fun classroom

activities.

We would like to welcome

Cindy Kaiser to Delta

Community Action Foundation’s

Board of Directors.

Cindy has lived in Duncan most

of her life, and has been

employed by Stephens County

for 31 years. She currently

holds the position of Stephens

County Clerk.

Welcome aboard Cindy!

PAGE 3 THE D EL TA D IFFER ENC E

Delta CAF Executive Director, Karen Nichols, was recently recognized by

the Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG) for the

McClain County Lifetime of Service award. The prestigious award is

presented to one individual each year from each county in the ASCOG

service area.

Mrs. Nichols began her career in community service thirty-six years ago as an

outreach worker for Delta Community Action where she eventually rose to

the rank of Executive Director. Over the years Nichols has served on several

boards, volunteered with church activities, and been involved with both the

Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. Mrs. Nichols also served as President for the

Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies where she received

several honors recognizing her dedication to community service.

The award was presented to Nichols by longtime McClain County Commis-

sioner, Charles "Shorty" Foster, on September 20th, during ASCOG's annual

meeting in Duncan, OK.

The third annual Winter Warmth-Stuff the Bus Campaign, sponsored by Delta

Public Transit, will officially kick off Monday, November 12, and run through

December 21, 2012.

Please bring non-perishable food items and new or gently used coats and

scarves to the Delta Public Transit dispatch office located at 215 West Paul in

Pauls Valley or to the Delta CAP office at 223 W. Washington in Purcell. All

donations will be used to fill Delta Community Action's Garvin and McClain

County food pantries. Items will be collected until Friday,

December 21.

To schedule a ride with Delta call 1-866-THAT-BUS. For more

information about Greyhound services call 405-238-2842.

PAGE 4 THE D EL TA D IFFER ENC E

Twenty-Two Delta Senior Nutrition sites were

recently visited by Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

Agency Monitor, Linda Crawley.

According to Crawley each site was found to be,

“clean, organized, and staffed with wonderful

people.” Each location was approved to continue

ordering food from RFBO.

As reported on their website, ”The Regional Food

Bank of Oklahoma distributes enough food to feed

more than 90,000 hungry Oklahomans each week

through more than 1,000 community pantries,

shelters, soup kitchens, and schools in central and

western Oklahoma.”

Delta’s Senior Nutrition program serves approxi-

mately 1,600 hot meals each day. These meals

have proven to be truly life-saving gifts to those who

are unable to prepare their own food because of

economic conditions or disability.

Delta Senior Nutrition, as well as both Delta Com-

munity Action food pantries, purchase items

through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. It is

through this unique collaboration that our agency is

able to provide nutritious meals and snacks to

many clients in our service area.

According to Pleasant View Apartment Manager,

Jennifer Bird, a new early-childhood playground, like

the one pictured on the left, will soon be installed at

Delta’s apartment complex in Pauls Valley.

The new equipment is designed specifically for

toddlers ages 2 to 5 years. The old playground,

consisting of swings and two bouncing toys, will also

be updated by adding safety wood chips to create a

safe fall zone.

Management hopes to have the new playground

completed and ready for play by early spring.

PAGE 5 THE D EL TA D IFFER ENC E

The Oklahoma Association of Community Action

Agencies (OKACAA) held its annual Service Awards

Banquet on September 21, 2012, at the Embassy

Suites Hotel in Norman, OK.

Several Delta Community Action employees were recognized for long-serving dedication in Community

Action. Employees receiving recognition this year were as follows:

10 Years 15 Years

Robin Bowen Head Start RuGenia Baxter Head Start

Connie Bratt Transit Susan Thompson Head Start

Debby Covington Administration

Rhonda David Foster Grandparents

Becky Deaton Administration 30 Years

Sheresa Patrick Head Start

Jackie Perry Housing Marjorie Shults Outreach Worker

Delta Community Action would like to congratulate these employees for their hard work and dedication.

To learn more about Delta's programs, visit our website at www.deltacommunityaction.org

1-877-794-6552

Or

1-877-RX4-OKLA Delta Head Start / Early Head Start

2012 Annual Report

can be found online at

deltacommunityaction.org

308 S.W. 2nd

Lindsay, OK 73052

Delta Community Action

Foundation, Inc.

Karen’s Korner The Executive Exclusive

Phone: 405.756.1100

Fax: 405.756.1104

deltacommunityaction.org

Board Members

Garvin

Rex Carlton

Howard Huey

Todd Hinckley

Stan Spivey

Shon Richardson

David Wall

McClain

Kerri Carwile

Darrell Ford

Charles Foster

Kay Foster

Wilson Lyles

Rodney Powers

Stephens

Dee Bowen

Janice Graham

Cindy Kaiser

Marion Lennox

Darrell Sparks

J. Collingsworth

I would like to take this opportunity to praise Delta Community

Action's staff and our astounding board of directors. As the year

begins to wind down, I am constantly reminded by the hard work

and dedication Delta employees bring to the table each day. This

unwavering commitment to making our community a better place has proven to be

the cornerstone of our foundation.

A great deal of Delta's success reflects largely on employees who take great pride in

helping others, a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done, and above all, a

sense of compassion for all who enter our doors. In addition, a passionately involved

group of supporters, like Delta’s Board of Directors, is priceless. Our agency is very

lucky to be blessed with exemplary employees as well as a superior advisory group.

I feel enormously blessed to be part of this foundation. May your holiday season be

filled with love and consideration for others. Together, we can make a difference

Karen Nichols

Executive Director