COCAA exists to help those in need
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By Cindy Sheets
Contributing Writer
The tough economy during the past few years have made things rough for many families, but one state agency exists primarily to provide support for those who are struggling.
The Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency (COCAA) provides help during emergencies, then assists people achieve selfsufficiency.
Clara Lewis, faith based development coordinator for Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency, last week spoke to Perkins Community Chamber of Commerce members about the agency and the services it offers.
Lewis said COCAA’s activities vary.
The agency motto, “Helping People, Changing Lives, Building Communities,” reflects the variety of its services.
“We help people every day with groceries, bills, and also provide services such as weatherization,” Lewis said.
COCAA got its start in 1964 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Economic Opportunity Act to eradicate poverty. There are now Community Action Agency offices in every Oklahoma county. COCAA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization serving six counties: Payne, Lincoln, Logan, Pottawatomie, Cleveland and Seminole. The agency gets its funding from federal and state grants and United Way allocations.
COCAA also gets a lot of donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations such as Elite Repeat in Stillwater. Donors have lots of personal reasons for their donations.
“One church class brings us loaves of bread,” Lewis said. “Others want to help families with babies, so they donate diapers or baby food.
“People donate to us because they know we are accountable. We love to help our families. It’s such a blessing when people give.”
Lewis said the agency is very aware of the number of people who depend on COCAA help.
“We know low income families suffer most in these hard economic times,” Lewis said, noting COCAA wants everyone to know that resources are available to assist those in need.
COCAA is on the 211 assistance list. “Most calls for assistance in Payne County go right to COCAA,” Lewis said. “But we want everyone to be aware of the services we offer.”
Some of the agency’s services are:
Emergency Services and Family Development – This covers assistance with food, utilities, clothes, housing, prescriptions, hearing aids, and other miscellaneous expenses.
The “Journey to Self-Sufficiency” program assists those who are in school or want to go back to school. This pays for tuition, books, and other incidentals which are determined on a caseby- case basis.
Homebuyer Education classes – This service helps people plan and prepare to be homeowners or acquire permanent housing.
Food Bank – The food bank provides three meals a day for three days, every 60 days. Lewis said there is a particularly high demand for this service.
Emergency and Transitional Housing – The Mission of Hope in Stillwater provides emergency housing for up to 40 people.
Stillwater Community Health Clinic – provides affordable medical care from doctors and nurses who volunteer their services. In addition to physician’s visits, the clinic provides pharmacy assistance, and referrals for other healthrelated problems.
“It’s a blessing to those who don’t have health insurance,” Lewis said.
Rx for Oklahoma – COCAA works with pharmaceutical companies to provide extremely lowcost prescription assistance to qualified individuals.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – allows volunteers age 55 and older to share their time, knowledge and skills in a variety of areas, including hot meals for seniors, income tax assistance, and literacy.
COCAA’s Weatherization program is a good example of one specific use of federal stimulus funds, Lewis noted. This program helps homeowners reduce their energy costs by making their homes more energyefficient. The program assists both homeowners and renters, but prioritizes seniors, those with disabilities, and households with children.
“COCAA operates five weatherization teams who do approximately 25 houses every month,” she said. “This includes weather strips, replacement doors, etc.”
To apply for the weatherization program, just drop by the office and pick up an application.
COCAA can easily be reached by calling 211 for local assistance information, or just drop by the office at its new site, 410 S. Lewis, just north of Walgreens in Stillwater. Lewis can also be reached by calling (405) 624-2533 or by email at clewis@cocaa.org. The COCAA website address is www.cocaa.org.
This is part of the February 25, 2010 online edition of The Journal.
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