March 9, 2024 Issue, Page 14 of 14

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Community 14 - The Elk City News March 9, 2024 Pictured are Kelci Werner, David Atkinson, Jack Morgan, Ragan Hulen, Ella Sottile, Campbell Garbarino, DR. Erin Sloan, Hazel Claborn, and Jack Claborn. Staff photo. Rotary’s Interact Club Refills Blessing Boxes Jack Claborn and Hazel Claborn By Sheryl Ponce to refill the food and book by others when they have read clean and refill them. Blessing Boxes that are placed ‘There are two types of the books. years. There is no charge for the Department's Fraternal Order The Elk City High School throughout Elk City. Spon- Blessing Boxes that can be seen The boxes were made by food or books. People taking a of Police. Interact Club, Elk City Rotary sor Kelci Werner and mem- at various residential spots Rotarian Jim Mason, who book or food are unknown, and If anyone has extra non- Club’s youth program, gath- bers David Atkinson, Sheryl around town. Anyone can stop spearheaded the project sever- no one asks. It is a service for perishable food they could ered Sat., March 2nd, at the Ponce, and Dr. Erin Sloan were bya box and get some food or a al years ago. The materials have the community. There is one share, stop by a box and reload Pioneer Center’s parking lot, on hand to help the students book. The books can be refilled been used and shared over the located at the Elk City Police it. If there is someone who has Department, but it was built an abundance of books, please by WTC auto body classes on stop by a Blessing Box to de- the behalf of the Elk City Police posit books. Aloha Grill Regional Manager of 111 Aloha Grill - Elk City, located at 202 S. Randall Ave. had their Elk City Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting last Project Explains CarePortal week. Owners Lilly Vargas and Luis Hernandez celebrated among family, friends, and chamber members. To order online call 580-303-4405. The menu is available on their business Facebook page, Aloha Grill - Elk City. Courtesy photos. to Rotarians By Sheryl Ponce ‘The Elk City Rotarians met for their regular meeting Thurs. Jan, 29th, at the Elks Lodge. Kelci Werner was acting presi- dent in the absence of president Luke Carpenter. She made BONAFIDE. Auction Co. LLC announcements and then introduced the Rotarian of the Day, Scott Rodgers. His guest speaker was Rita Blumer, the 111 Proj- ect’s NW Regional Manager. She covers 16 counties recruiting churches and other organizations to become a part of the Care- Portal. ‘The CarePortal is a technology platform that connects peo- ple who want to help children in foster care and the families in crisis, It is a free app that brings awareness to the needs of kids in Child Protective Services, and it gives churches or others abil- LOCATION: 3 MILES SOUTH OF FREDERICK, OK ON HWY 183 ity to contribute directly to a specific need. ‘TRACTORS, COMBINES, DITCH WITCH, SKID STEER, SPRAYER. “The portal helps connect the kids who are in need. There 2012 JOHN DEERE S680 COMBINE, PRE-DEF, 2,155 SEP HOURS, NICE MACHNE are 7 million children referred to Child Protective Services every 2012 JOHN DEERE 6400, 40”DRAPER HEADER year in the US. On any given day, there are 400,000 kids in the 2009 VERSATILE 2375 4WD TRACTOR 5,185 HOURS, PTO. VERY CLEAN, AUTO STEER ‘2013 VERSATILE 400 4WD TRACTOR 2,920 HOURS, BAREBACK, LOW HOURS, NICE, AUTO STEER foster system,” the video Blumer showed said. JOHN DEERE 9300 4WD TRACTOR, 7,000 HOURS, 24 SPEED, SUPER NICE ‘The founder and president of CarePortal said, “So your por- 2019 MAHINORA MIOSKLP.W/ LOADER 635 HOURS, LIKE NEW CONDITION, tal is sharing technology. It connects students and families in JOHN DEERE 8130 MFWD TRACTOR, POWERSHIFT, 4 REMOTES JOHN DEERE 4555 MFWD TRACTOR, NEW POWERSHIFT TRANS. 3 REMOTES crisis with people who want to help in proximity, in real time. 1998 CASE $140 MFWD TRACTOR, SELF LEVELLING LOADER, P. POWERSHIFT We started because our parent organization, the Global Project, JOHN DEERE 4440 2WD TRACTOR , POWERSHIFT, RECENT OVERHAUL, 2 REMOTES, 3 PTPTO was serving kids and families across the world who were in dire JOHN DEERE 4630, CAB AIR, NEW REARTIRES JOHN DEERE 4420 W/ LOADER, POWERSHIFT, 2 REMOTES need through local churches. So we thought we should figure PATRIOT SELF PROPELLED SPRAVER WIDE TRAC, SS TANK, 75'BOOM, 2 SETS OF TIRES, out how to do this in our own backyard as well.” DITCH WITCH R100 DIESEL DITCHER They began mobilizing local churches in the United States to INTERNATIONAL 685 TRACTOR W/ SIDE BOOM MOWER 2017 CASE TV380 SKID STEER, CAB, AIR, TRACKS, 650 HOURS care for children in the foster care system. There are many kids ‘SEMI-TRUCKS AND TRAILERS, PICKUPS, STOCK TRAILERS, FERT. TRUCK in the system who are not there because of abuse, but because 1996 PETERBILT 379 X-HOOD DAY-CAB, 475.CAT, 13 SPD, 50,000 ON OVERHAUL W/ PAPERWORK, of poverty and neglect related to poverty. This platform gives 2016 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA DAY-CAB, DETROIT, 10 SPEED 2015 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA DAY-CAB 380,000 MILES, DETROIT, AUTOMATIC people the chance to meet the needs of the kids and families in 2017 INTERNATIONAL DAY-CAB 514,000 MILES, AUTOMATICTRANS real time. 201) FREIGHTLINER CORONADO DAY-CAB, DETROIT, 10 SPD, 329,000 MILES +2007 KENWORTH W-900, C-15 CAT, SINGLE TURBO “Most of the requests come from child welfare agencies, soa 2017 PETERBILT 579 TRUCK, 455 PACCAR, AUTOMATIC caseworker will submit a request. It could be for a mother with NEW LEADER L2020 DRY FERTILIZER TRUCK, L22G SPREADER BED, CAT, 10 SPD three kids who left an abusive relationship, who is trying to get 2012 FORD F-350 4X4, CREW CAB, DIESEL. AUTO, LW, CLEAN PICKUP 2012 FORD F-250 4X4, DIESEL, AUTO, BRAMCO BALE BED, H&S TRIP HOPPER her children back but needs things for her apartment. ‘There is 2019 GOOSENCK BRAND 32°X6'8" STOCK TRAILER, RUBBER FLOOR, LIKE NEW a request that goes to the to the network of churches, business, 2022 GOOSENECK BRAND 16'X6'8"8P. STOCK TRAILER, RUBBER FLOOR, USED 1 TIME and people who care. Someone may respond that he/she has 1898 SOONER 3 HORSE SLANT, FRONT TACK ROOM 1998 TIMPTE HOPPER BOTTOM, BLACK SIDES, AIR-RIDE, ALUM WHEELS an item that is needed, and the family gets connected with the 20111 DIRECT 48X102 FLATBED TRAILER, SPREAD-AIR, LIGHT USE, NICE TRAILER responder. The actual need is a meaningful connection or rela- ‘TRANSCRAFT 48X102 DROPDECKW/ DOVETAIL AND RAMPS, SPREAD-AIR tionship between the community and neighbors who are serv- 2006 REITNOUR 48X102 ALUMINUM FLATBED SPREAD-AIR, SUPER STRAIGHT 3+ GREAT DANE 53X102 DRY VAN TRAILERS, SLIDING TANDEMS, ROLL-UP DOORS ing neighbors,” Blumer explained. 3- GROUND LOAD LIVESTOCK SEMI-TRAILERS ‘There are 500 churches across the country who are an ac- 2011 MAURER 34° HOPPER BOTTOM tive part of the portal. They help make meaningful connec- MERRITT 42°HOPPER BOTTOM HAY EQUIPMENT, GRAIN CART, GRAVITY WAGON tions in the community. In Beckham County the churches who 2023 ANDERSON RBM1400 ROUND BALE HAY MOVER, LIKE NEW CONDITION are already signed up with the CarePortal are Elk City United 2020 JOHN DEERE S6OM ROUND BALER, NET WRAP. 7,768 BALES, MEGA.WIDE, SUPER NICE Methodist Church, Erick United Methodist Church, First Chris- 4D. S60M ROUND BALER 12,000 BALES, ALL NEW BELTS, NET WRAP, MEGA WIDE +2020 J.0. 560M ROUND BALER 15,500 BALES, NET WRAP, MEGA-WIDE tian Church, The Link, and The Way. She started with about 20 2—JOHN DEERE 569 ROUND BALERS, NET WRAP. MEGAAWIDE, CLEAN BALERS churches in the northwest, and Blumer said there are 60 church- 2021 HS 14 WHEEL HIGH CAPACITY RAKE, LESS THAN 800 ACRES, LIKE NEW 2022 H&S HAY MACHINE II, WINDROW FLUFFER, LIKE NEW es who have signed on. CASE 8580 BIG SQUARE BALER, W/ ACCUMULATOR “Our mission is that we are the implementer of CarePortal in J8NM 1051 GRAIN STORM GRAIN CART, WALKING TANDEM, NEW AUGERS, TARP the state of Oklahoma. In the state, last year, out of all the states EZ-TRAIL GRAVITY WAGON, HYD AUGER ROLL OVER TARP, LIKE NEW. ‘GAS POWERED HYDRAULIC POWER UNI, NEW IN BOX in the United States, Oklahoma churches led the way with the FARM EQUIPMENT, SKID STEER ATTACHMENTS, CONTAINERS most requests met. We have met those through the churches. JOHN DEERE 2210 38° FIELD CULTIVATOR, TINE HARROWS W/ NEW SWEEPS, NICE We've met over 30,000 requests, That is a huge economic impact JOHN DEERE 610 35'CHISEL PLOW, SPRING SHANK SUNFLOWER 1434-26 TANDEM DISC 22° DISCS, GOOD SHAPE on the state of Oklahoma. What it means now is that the gap is FLEXL-COIL 820, 27' CHISEL PLOW, TINE HARROW DRAGS, SPRING SHANKS. closed,” Blumer said. JOHIN DEERE CX15 SHREDDER 1 OWNER, CLEAN AND WELL KEPT Churches or businesses can enroll at any time. In the north- ‘GREAT PLAINS SERIES Vil 49'FIELD CULTIVATOR,TINE HARROW ORAGS, NO BREAKS SUNFLOWER 45'FIELD CULTIVATOR, TINE HARROW DRAGS, NO BREAKS west, they served 740 children since they started with CarePor- MCFARLANE 35‘ HARROW. tal. Woodward has been a major force in the program. They have ‘SUNFLOWER 2420, 30/CHISEL PLOW ten churches working together. In Beckham County, they have SUNFLOWER 28° SWEEP PLOW SEVERAL NEW SKID STEER ATTACHMENTS, SOIL CONDITIONERS, BROOMS, POST DRIVERS had nine requests submitted to the portal, and 100 percent of POST-HOLE DIGGERS, TRENCHERS, BUCKETS, FORKS, SHREDDERS, STUMP GRINDER those requests were filled. That is an $8,712 impact from the BIG LOT OF NEW WROUGHT IRON FENCING 2. NEW ONE TRIP 40 SEA CONTAINERS WITH 4 SIDE-DOORS, VERY NICE county since it was launched in November. SEVERAL NEW MINI EXCAVATORS, GAS POWERED ‘This program is a path to connect needs with those who 4 NEW MINISKID STEERS, GAS POWERED. want to help meet those needs. Blumer said that with the app, a person or organization can see a request as it comes in, and re- sponders can see immediately when it is met. Instead of putting ina request through DHS and having to wait on a response, this portal is a way to assist immediately. For more information about the program, call or text Blum- er at 580-922-3555, or email her at [email protected]. To find out more about 111 Project, go to www.111project.org/oklaho- ma. This is a program that can impact a family immediately by meeting a specific need through the private sector.