Thoughts, shots, and occasional plots involving Oklahoma. Note: Tate Publishing is out of business so the books listed in the margin of this blog will be the self-published version available at Amazon.com
Monday, December 28, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Friday, June 12, 2015
Cheaper than marrying one...
The sun is finally shining on a regular basis in western Oklahoma. The winds over the past few days have been strong enough to do some hang gliding without any need for an elevated launch point. In short, it is an Oklahoma spring, almost summer.
This time of year also brings a host of auctions across the Oklahoma landscape. The Cordell Beacon, Penny News, and other publications in Elk City, Clinton, and surrounding towns are filled with auction notices. Auctions might just be the third most popular sport in the state, behind football, basketball, baseball, and math meets.
A few years ago, I was participating in this popular Saturday activity in the town of Sentinel, Oklahoma. I had scored several good buys already. On this particular day, the auctioneer presented a nearly new, brand name dishwasher. Despite his efforts, the bidding fell short of expectations. This was a very good unit and should have brought a decent price, but on this day it looked as if it would go for under forty dollars.
It was at that point that an old-timer standing in the back of the crowd shouted out, “It’s cheaper than marrying one.”
In some states, the man would have been suppressed with a barrage of outrage. In California, he probably would have been hauled into court on some sort of civil suit. In Sentinel, Oklahoma the bidding resumed as soon as the laughter died down.
The dishwasher sold at a much higher price.
This time of year also brings a host of auctions across the Oklahoma landscape. The Cordell Beacon, Penny News, and other publications in Elk City, Clinton, and surrounding towns are filled with auction notices. Auctions might just be the third most popular sport in the state, behind football, basketball, baseball, and math meets.
A few years ago, I was participating in this popular Saturday activity in the town of Sentinel, Oklahoma. I had scored several good buys already. On this particular day, the auctioneer presented a nearly new, brand name dishwasher. Despite his efforts, the bidding fell short of expectations. This was a very good unit and should have brought a decent price, but on this day it looked as if it would go for under forty dollars.
It was at that point that an old-timer standing in the back of the crowd shouted out, “It’s cheaper than marrying one.”
In some states, the man would have been suppressed with a barrage of outrage. In California, he probably would have been hauled into court on some sort of civil suit. In Sentinel, Oklahoma the bidding resumed as soon as the laughter died down.
The dishwasher sold at a much higher price.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
This is Oklahoman generosity and great stewardship working together!
Hold on a moment. This blog is all about windmills and hay bails and sunsets, right?
Yes, and other things uniquely Oklahoman, such as generosity.
Yes, and other things uniquely Oklahoman, such as generosity.
How can a dollar be worth more than a dollar?
It can’t, can it?
The value of the dollar seems to go down every year, except
at the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center. Over the past year, for every dollar that the
Family Care Center took in, it provided $1.41 of benefit to patients and
clients.
How is this possible?
Having the ability to maintain a facility that houses
medical and dental equipment, to include a licensed pharmacy, a food bank, and
counselors enables full time, part time, and volunteer staff to provide an array of services.
In 2014, the Western Oklahoma Family Care Center provided
over $281, 244 worth of services and benefits to clients and patients in 4
counties. Among the items and services
provided were clothing, rental and temporary housing expenses, travel
assistance, utility assistance, pharmaceuticals, DLO Labs, Optometry services
and other general assistance.
That year is in the books.
This year has new challenges. To
do all that the Family Care Center would like to do—too include much more
counseling and much more effort focused on the root causes of so many poverty
related issues—it needs about a half million dollar budget.
The Center has been getting by on less than half of
that. That sounds like a lot of money,
and for a single household, it would be.
Last year the WOFCC helped 3421 people in 1483 households.
There’s more that just giving out money and services. There is commitment to helping people better
themselves. Perhaps that involves diet
or budgeting or learning to serve others.
The WOFCC is not just a warehouse of food and services; it truly is a
family care center.
The economy remains unpredictable but even in this uncertain
state of economic affairs, there are people who want to bless others less
fortunate than themselves. Many do this
through their local churches. Some are
looking to do more.
What if you could donate a dollar and it became worth $1.25
or $1.50 or more? All unrestricted
donations are tax deductable. The
Western Oklahoma Family Care Center maximizes every donation to provide the
best care possible to the greatest number of people. Sometimes, there is a sign on the door that
reads, “All funds have been expended for the month.”
Follow this
link to see how you can be a part of helping others in Western Oklahoma.
http://www.westokfcc.com/?page_id=19
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)