Stimulus Money To Support Senior Nutrition

By Dan Bewley and Terry Hood, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Oklahoma is also getting more than a million dollars in stimulus money to help senior citizens get a good meal.  Of that, $170,000 is set for Tulsa, Creek, and Osage Counties.

Ron Coleman has been delivering meals to seniors for four years.

"I make about 20 stops," said Ron Coleman.

Coleman is a driver for the Area Agency on Aging Senior Nutrition Program.

"I enjoy helping people.  I've always been that way," said Ron Coleman.

One of his stops was to drop off lunch to Fred and Ozetta Parker.

"Well, it's convenient.  It keeps us from having to cook.  Main meal is the middle meal, lunch," said Ozetta Parker.

The Parkers are like thousands of Oklahoma seniors who rely on the program for a healthy meal.  The program is about to get a shot in the arm with $170,000 in stimulus money.         

"Right now, we're serving five days a week and we're going to try to expand that to seven days a week," said Clark Miller with the Tulsa Area Agency on Aging.

Clark Miller is the program director.  He says the money amounts to an 8% increase in his yearly budget.  He also says the more services the program can provide the better it is for the economy.

"It helps the economy by helping individuals who are struggling with making the choices whether to buy prescriptions or pay their bills. If we can take care of the nutritional side for them, they can take care of personal needs they have," said Clark Miller with the Tulsa Area Agency on Aging.

The Parkers agree.  They say the program saves them close to $100 a month in meals.  They hope the stimulus money can bring more food to their front door and make life a little less stressful.

Miller says they're still waiting on the details of the money and what they are required to do to be transparent with how it's spent.  He expects the money by the middle of summer.

For more about how stimulus money is being spent in Oklahoma, visit Recovery.gov.