Do you know an Unsung Hero?

They don’t’ get recognized on television because they stand or don’t stand for the National Anthem.  They won’t get an Oscar, Tony, or even a Golden Globe this year.  They are not famous but you know who they are.

Who?  The Unsung Heroes of our community, that’s who.  These are the men and women who serve as police, in emergency services, or in the armed forces of the United States.  They are also the foster parents who take on one more child that nobody else wants.  They are the Sunday school teachers and Scout leaders that go the extra mile.  They are the person that you see at almost every volunteer event, often the first there and the last to leave as well as the hardest worker. 

 Occasionally, people thank them for their service.  These people don’t do what they do for the recognition or the thank you; but every once in a while; these folks should be recognized.  That is exactly what is happening at the Unsung Heroes WOFCC Fundraiser dinner on 15 November 2016.

This is a fundraiser for the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center but it is also an optimal venue for recognizing many unsung heroes in Beckham, Custer, Roger Mills, and Washita Counties. 

How does someone get recognized as an unsung hero?  It is as simple as a $100 donation to the WOFCC with a short (1 paragraph) description of why this person is worthy of recognition at this time.  That $100 donation provides a ticket for the unsung hero and spouse and two tickets for the donor.  Those recognized do not need to prepare a speech or rent a tuxedo.  Some may not even be able to attend because of what they do, but the account of their service will be read during the banquet.  You may submit a deployed serviceman or service woman as well.  They may be on the other side of the world, but they will be recognized here.

Realize that this is a fundraiser for a very good cause—the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center. That is why each unsung hero submission needs to be accompanied by a $100 or more donation.  If that seems like a large amount for your finances, consider getting a group together to sponsor an unsung hero.

If you live in Washita County and would like to sponsor an unsung hero, please contact Reverend Thomas Spence at (580) 562-4706.  If you would like to sponsor an unsung hero from elsewhere in the state, please contact the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center at (580) 225-5500.

And for those who want to do more...

Fundraiser Banquet only a few days away

There are only 10 more days remaining!

Until what?  The election?  No.

Veterans Day?  No.

The time for the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center Fundraising Banquet is approaching fast.  It will be on Tuesday, 15 November 2016 at the Elk City Civic Center.  The silent auction begins at 6:00 p.m. and the program and meal commence shortly thereafter.  This year’s theme is Unsung Heroes.

What’s the big deal about the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center?

This is a place where people who can barely keep their heads above water go for help.  They may have a minimum wage job and generally get by in life, but one week of missing work due to an accident or the flu or four kids out of school with the flu and suddenly the electric bill is past due.  The Family Care Center has rescued many a family that were trying hard to make it in life but just needed a little boost when the cutoff notice arrived a week before the next paycheck.

Have you ever had an abscessed tooth?  That’s normally not something that you tough out and hope it goes away, but some people don’t have the money or insurance needed to get it fixed.  Many have found relief at the Hope Clinic.  Others come for other reasons but the common denominator is that they can’t afford to go anywhere else.  Whether you like the Affordable Care Act or hate it with a passion; there is still a large part of our community that has no health insurance and can’t afford to get it.  That does not mean they cannot get care.  Over the past few years, the two clinics that are a part of the WOFCC have provided the equivalent of more than 1 million dollars’ worth of services to patients at no cost to them. 

The clinic pharmacy has also provided medication to people at no charge.  Some people may be able to afford a $4 copay for a prescription at their local pharmacy but many cannot afford even that and would go without were it not for the WOFCC pharmacy.

Stranded travelers, fire victims, people on the verge of homelessness, and so many more who have just hit a rough spot in their lives have found help at the WOFCC.  Please note that this is a hand up and not a hand out organization.  The WOFCC is a faith based non-profit organization and that means making every encounter with the clientele count.  Workers practice mercy and do it cheerfully but do speak the truth in love.  More than money, so many of our clientele need lifestyle changes, the discipline to budget, and a family of faith to call home.

The WOFCC does its best to guide, mentor, counsel, and even challenge those served to know a better way of life.  Many of the people that are helped are just focused on the short-term issue but those who serve on the board, the few employees in the organization, and the volunteers are focused on helping people for the long haul as well.  All who are called to serve have found that the monetary help given, the medical services provided, and everything else that happens during a day of service just come down to loving our neighbor.  Those are familiar words in these parts.

What’s the big deal?  What’s not a big deal?  This is where the rubber meets the road in loving our neighbor in Beckham, Custer, Roger Mills, and Washita Counties.  WOFCC services rely on donations.  The November Fundraiser is critical to continued operations.  Some will donate thousands of dollars, some a few hundred, and others will buy a ticket to the banquet.  All donations help.

You may think that times are tough and this is not the right time to make a donation.  Realize that for many, times are not tough—they are desperate.  Without the WOFCC, many would lose hope.  Even a donation of $25 or $100 helps the clinics serve just a few more patients or maybe keeps the power on for a family with a house full of children.

If you live in Washita County and need a ticket or would like to donate, please contact Reverend Thomas Spence at (580) 562-4706.  If you live in the other three counties that are served, please contact the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center at (580) 225-5500.

Western Oklahoma Family Care Center

Unsung Heroes

Fundraiser Banquet

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Elk City Civic Center

6:00 p.m.

Tickets $30

Advance Purchase $25

And for those who are called to do more...

God bless Burns Flat and western Oklahoma

I was setting up my table for the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center today at the Burns Flat Birthday Bash.  It is a wonderful thing that some of the younger leaders in our community have put together in grand fashion for 2 years now. They are turning the tide in community involvement.

It was time for the official kick off to the event so I moved to where the microphone and stage and high school band were to see what would take place.  To my delight, the event kicked off with the band playing the National Anthem.  Everyone stood, caps were removed, and hands moved to cover hearts as the music started.

Near the front was an older lady (meaning older than me) who was a bit on the frail side.  She was seated on the curb and nobody would have given her grief for not standing in her condition, but she would have none of it.  It took her until what so proudly we hailed to get upright and a beat or two longer to get her hand over her heart, but she would not stop until she was facing our National Ensign and rending proper respect.

It is good to live in western Oklahoma where God is welcome and Old Glory still brings men, women, and children to their feet.

So many have forgotten that God is to be first in all things that that we have no rights that we have earned.  Our rights that are so often taken for granted and often abused were given to us by each generation that answered the call to protect and defend this great nation against all enemies. 

Every week I deal with people whose lives are upside down.  Every once in a while, it is good to see that we get something just right.

God bless western Oklahoma!

Would you help if it cost you absolutely nothing?

Would you give us the rest of the year?

What?

Would you give us the rest of the year as your Amazon.com designated charity?  It doesn’t cost you anything extra.  A small percentage of your purchase goes to the charity that you select when you are a part of Amazon Smile.

Your purchase price does not go up.  Amazon just donates a little to the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center when you take a few moments to select us.  It may be just a little but if we can get everyone that we know who uses Amazon and knows our good works to select us, then it will add up to something that will produce good fruit for this wonderful ministry of mercy as we help those who need help the most.

Follow this link and help us help others at no cost to you.  If you don’t think you are helping anyone, then change to another organization in a few months.  I am certain that you will like what we are doing and want to continue.  Again, I remind you, this doesn’t cost you anything but it helps us help those in need.

If you think that this might just be the greatest thing since sliced bread or the latest smart phone model, then share it with everyone.  We can make a big difference with many very small contributions.

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/26-1284785

Calling all volunteers this Saturday!

Looking for a short term volunteer opportunity?  We need labor, muscle, smarts, tools, and great attitudes to converge at Christi’s at 10 am this Saturday.  You heard that we were fixing some things.  We need to move furniture and merchandise, do some painting, and a few things that we don’t even know need done until we get started.

We need volunteers who can move things large and small, disassemble, clean, paint, take out trash, put down drop cloths or just pitch in where needed.  We need people with tools or people without tools who can do some grunt work.  We are calling for volunteers.

If you have wanted to be a part of this wonderful ministry, now is the time to gather with board members and volunteers and help us move towards our grand reopening at Christi’s.

10 am

Saturday, 8 October 2016

Christi’s Bazaar

110 S. Main Street

Elk City, Oklahoma

If you can’t make it exactly at 10, stop by as soon as you can.  Having a second and third wave of help would be fantastic.

Election officials warn of e-mail phishing scam

Leah Jones of the Washita County Election Board released the following advisory concerning phishing scams associated with local election board look alike emails.

Election officials warn of e-mail phishing scam

 

(Oklahoma City) – Oklahoma State Election Board officials are warning voters to be cautious after multiple Oklahomans reported receiving phishing e-mails designed to look like communications from state or county election boards.

 

The e-mails indicate the recipient’s voter information has been changed or is in need of verification and contain a link to a malicious website.

 

Do not open links from any e-mail sent unsolicited from someone claiming to be an election official. All communications regarding changes in voter information or the need to verify registration information are sent by U.S. mail and not through e-mail.

 

People can verify their registration information, access other important information and contact the Oklahoma State Election Board at http://elections.ok.gov. The election board responds to e-mails sent through a web form on its website. Those responses will always be from someone with an elections.ok.gov e-mail address and will not be sent unless you have provided your e-mail in an effort to contact the agency.

 

Military and overseas voters may receive e-mail from a no-reply address ending in okelections.us, however all replies are sent directly to the appropriate county election board’s e-mail address.

 

Voters who are unsure of the authenticity of an e-mail claiming to be from the Oklahoma State Election Board or their county election board should contact the state election board at (405) 521-2391 to verify whether the communication is legitimate.

 

Those who receive phishing e-mails should report them to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov and/or the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@antiphishing.org.

Backpack Ministry Helps 101 Local Children

The generosity of the Burns Flat-Dill City community reached 101 children this year with a full complement of school supplies.  This Monday, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church gave out 98 backpacks to children of families that needed a little extra help this year.  Another 3 were helped the next day.  If annual patterns hold true, a few more will come seeking assistance over the next two weeks.

How does this all come together?  First the Cumberland Presbyterian Church budgets $1000, then the Vacation Bible School dedicates its offering to the Backpack Ministry, and then local businesses and individuals are led to add to that amount.  In the end, every child that came for supplies was given a new backpack and a grade specific bag—and sometimes tub—full of supplies.

While the economy may still be a little rocky in these parts, generosity still prevails among those who remain.  The Burns Flat Cumberland Presbyterian Church wishes to thank all donors and helpers.  We have once again been blessed to be a blessing!



... A little post script.  As of 15 August 2016, the number of children helped was 105.