Pain in the legs when walking or exercising can occur due to lack of oxygen reaching the muscles
Charisse Ward, MD, MPH, an interventional cardiologist at St. Mary’s, discusses peripheral artery disease (PAD), and the symptoms and risk factors you need to know.
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries become narrowed due to the build-up of plaque (a fatty substance made up of cholesterol, lipids and cellular debris) on their walls. Atherosclerosis results in impaired blood flow and poor circulation to vital organs.
PAD is a form of atherosclerosis where plaque builds up and blocks blood flow to one or more limbs.
What are the risk factors and warning signs?
Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, family history of PAD and high blood pressure. PAD is often asymptomatic (meaning that there are no noticeable symptoms) until it’s quite advanced.
PAD may result in hair loss of the lower extremities, coolness of the limbs or claudication. Claudication refers to the pain in the legs when walking or exercising due to a lack of oxygen reaching the muscles and tissues of the lower extremities. Some people with PAD may also experience leg pain that persists when they stop exercising. PAD that is left untreated can lead to non-healing ulcers, pain, gangrene, lower limb amputation, heart attack or stroke.
Dr. Charisse Ward
How is PAD diagnosed and treated?
PAD can be diagnosed through several methods, including evaluation of the ratio of blood pressures of the upper and lower extremities, ultrasound or even CAT scan. Screening for PAD is quick, easy and painless.
If you or someone in your family has risk factors or symptoms of PAD, it’s important to get screened. There are many possible causes for this disease, and most can be treated with a combination of medical interventions like medication, stents, rehabilitation therapy and lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise.
The sooner you’re on the right track through diagnosis and treatment of PAD, the more success you’ll have at limiting its progression. Find out if you have PAD – get screened now!
Need help finding a doctor? Visit stmarysregional.com/find
Physicians are on the medical staff of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website.
Greetings! With the ever-evolving algorithms of social media platforms, it’s important to read up on big and small changes.
I aim to keep my finger on the pulse of digital marketing trends as much as possible. And as we look to wrap up the final months of 2022, there are some changes on the social media marketing horizon.
Perhaps the most significant is TikTok’s recent shake up.
TikTok Adds Photo Mode
While Instagram has copied TikTok time and again, the tables have turned with TikTok’s new photo mode announcement.
Previously, TikTok has been purely entertaining reels, and a difficult space for businesses to navigate. (Who has the time?)
Through the new release, users can post single images, or create image slides just like on Instagram, plus attach music to the slides.
Now, if the photo mode launch proves successful, TikTok becomes a true competitor to Meta in the promotional space. This makes room for unique ads and product promotions on TikTok – ones that business owners can more easily access and navigate.
Meta Changes “Send Message” CTA Ad Results
One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a boosted post on Facebook with a “send message” call to action.
First off, because it’s the automatic boost setting, it implies that the user added some funds to a post, and didn’t choose a specific audience or action to follow.
Second, does anyone really want to receive that many inquiries on Messenger? The dream CTA is a website visit, phone call, or even better, an automated sign-up or booking!
BUT, with Meta’s recent announcement, Messenger CTAs might make a comeback. The platform recently announced the following:
“Typically, we show Click to Messenger ads to people who are most likely to initiate a conversation with a business on WhatsApp, Messenger or Instagram Direct. With this update, we’re introducing the ability for advertisers to run Click to Messenger ads which will reach the people who are most likely to make a purchase in a thread.”
This means potential for more leads that turn into customers from these ads. Maybe I’ll loosen up on my hard-fast rule here!
Twitter Launches Link Spotlight CTAs
After wrapping up recent testing, Twitter has officially released spotlight links for business accounts.
This means you can add a call to action to your business profile!
The current options include: book appointment, listen now, make reservation, read now, see now, stream live, view menu and watch now.
The only drawback for business owners is that Twitter is only allowing specific domains to be used in these profile calls to action. The upside is there are options like YouTube and Calendly that allow for business promotions and booking options.
It will be interesting to see if this ultimately ups the use of Twitter for business in our region.
I wish you the best in your digital marketing efforts! If you’d like to chat more about the current tips and trends, shoot me an email at elizabeth@wordygirl.com.
September 30th brought OBA a new inductee to its Wall of Christian Commitment, Clellie Richards. At the commitment ceremony, former OBA Headmaster Paul MacDonald remarked of Mr. Richards, “No one deserves to be on this wall more.”
Mr. Richards began his 26-year tenure with OBA in April of 1995. First as the groundskeeper and maintenance, then as junior high science and Bible teacher. Mr. Richards reflects, “the next 26 years were exciting and blessed years, dependent upon the commitment of my wife Ginger and the partnership of my three children.” Mr. Richards cherishes the role OBA played in shaping all three of his children’s relationship with the Lord which continues to flourish into their adulthood.
Mr. Richards grew up in a Christian home developing a strong work ethic on the family farm in the Panhandle. Success in basketball and VoAg led to a scholarship at NEO A&M and OSU where met his wife Ginger. With a degree in animal science and ag education, Mr. Richards taught for 12 years in Wakita as Ag Science and FFA instructor. While in Wakita, the Richards children were born: Caleb, Kala, and Clancy. While attending Bethel Hawley Baptist Church, Mr. Richards became convinced of the value of Christian education and moved his family to Enid to attend Emmanuel Christian School and OBA.
Special OBA memories for Mr. Richards involve dedication to facility projects that served students. Projects include the baseball field construction, the 1999-2002 baseball players required 10 hours of building and maintaining the field to be on the team, oldest son Caleb’s class of 2002 logged over 100 hours to complete it before their graduation. He and his son Clancy worked one summer to position lockers and build the north hall coat and backpack hangers. In OBA’s inaugural football season Mr. Richards constructed the first set of football bleachers with school dad, Rick Roberts, in less than two weeks.
Mr. Richards began teaching high school life sciences in 2002 when the Advanced Learning wing was added. Mr. Richards took on the challenge of teaching AP Biology where 14 years of students were prepared to thrive in biological science degrees and careers. Although his students achieved impressive AP and ACT scores, he says his “biggest blessing of how God used his students’ experiences and relationships to help him mature in his own personal relationship with the Lord.” A Senior, and former student of Mr. Richards, Clara Caldwell, remembers with admiration, “We saw his dedication to the school, his love he had for his children and OBA, and how he gave everything his all.”
Mr. Richards learned to measure student success by how well they learned to serve the Lord, regardless of academic and athletic abilities. The professional teaching legacy that Mr. Richards leaves to future generations of teachers and students is not his student’s impressive academic scores or state championships but his ability to inspire his student to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ through his science classrooms, fields, and court. In his commitment ceremony speech, Mr. Richards closed by saying, “I don’t want you to remember me, I want you to remember what God has done.” Mr. Richards, OBA thanks you for your many years of commitment and dedication to the Lord and Christian education!
Welcome to November friends! Time to get the ole’ shotguns out of the safe and get them dusted and oiled up as bird season is near. If you are like me, you might even go as far as setting up the wobble trap or getting your hand-held clay pigeon thrower and get back into muscle memory mode.
While I certainly like rifles and handguns, shotguns are king. Out of all I own, my favorite is an old Remington 870 pump 16 gauge. Why, you ask, when I have several that are worth significantly more? Because my father gave it to me. It’s even more special because it’s the first gun he owned. He bought it when he was 16 years old brand new after making money selling newspapers in Greensburg, KS (my birthplace). While shells are sometimes difficult to find, I enjoy utilizing it rather than just letting it sit in a safe. It’s still in excellent shape. My folks bought my first shotgun for me (I used my dad’s others growing up) ss a high school graduation gift. A semi-automatic Remington 1187 Premier. Boy, it was a step up from the old pump actions.
While I still love Remington shotguns, I suppose it’s safe to say I’ve moved on to Brownings. I love the new A5 (and the vintage ones) and typically hunt pheasant with it. It’s light, sleek and simply beautiful. I shoot trap with an old-school Browning BT-99 from the 70s. I enjoy the real wood stock significantly more than the synthetic stock of today. I was lucky enough to find this beauty in a gun store in Duncan, OK. True to its name (trap gun) it improved my trap shooting significantly after only previously using field guns. If you struggle with trap more than skeet or sporting clays, give a trap gun a try.
I shoot a Browning Citori 725 with extended chokes for skeet and sporting clays. The over/under is suited perfectly and if you are in the market I’d absolutely suggest you check out this make/model. I have several Brownings and have never had a single issue with any of them (with proper maintenance, of course). Occasionally I’ll shoot a Winchester 101 I was also lucky to find brand new in the box (also from the 70s) which is another stellar shotgun.
Finally, my quail gun preference is a 20-gauge Browning Citori over/under I snagged from a local Chisholm celebrity (thanks Royden!) Shortly after purchasing it, he told me that selling it was one of the dumbest things he’s ever done. Knowing him, I suspect he hasn’t made too many mistakes in his life but glad he made this one.
While these are my shotguns of choice, (we’ll talk turkey, rabbit and waterfowl guns in a later article) the key is to find one suitable for you. Go to a gun shop and ask to hold several different types, barrel lengths, etc. Determine what gauge you need (will depend on what you are shooting) as there are 10, 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauges. Figure out proper maintenance and thoroughly clean after each use and they’ll last you a lifetime. Until next time friends, keep the lead flyin’ and I’ll see ya around the bend.
Snowdrops. First spring flowers in the snow. Natural colorful background in the garden. (Galanthus)
Gardening in Oklahoma may slow down, but never stops. Whether you are a lawn care guru, an overall wearing vegetable gardener, a bush and tree pruner or a flower aficionado, there is always something in the garden to tend to.
The first week of November is a great time to fertilize cool-season grasses one last time this season. Control those weeds before spring by using a post-emergent broadleaf weed killer. Then use those fallen leaves in the lawn by mowing with a mulching mower. The natural compost of decaying leaves will fertilize the soil in the yard throughout the winter months. It is also a good time for a soil test to correct nutrient deficiencies before winter.
If you have a vegetable garden, harvest your remaining garden herbs in early November to dry for use later. Tomatoes may still be producing right up until the first frost. Collect any green tomatoes and store them in a cool, dry location in wooden or cardboard boxes in single layers with newspaper or straw between the layers. Check them daily and use them as they ripen. You may have fresh tomatoes through January! Many root vegetables can be harvested right up until the first frost, as well. Remember the stories of the land runners who made do with turnips that whole first winter?
Once you have harvested all the vegetables and herbs, turn to the flower gardens. Plant spring-blooming bulbs such as irises, daffodils, day lilies, tulips and hyacinths. Deadhead and prune back dead tips and leaves and spindly growth on flowering bushes. Pull out any remaining weeds. Till compost into both vegetable gardens and flower beds. Protect the beds with about two inches of mulch or straw. The Oklahoma wind still dries out our red dirt lawn and gardens, so if you grow perennial garden plants such as asparagus or rhubarb, or you have flower bulbs, give those a good watering once or twice a month throughout the winter. Water 24 hours before a freeze. This will help to prevent winter freeze and plant death. Now is also a good time to make any repairs to raised beds.
If you want to add trees to your landscaping, November is the month to plant them. Wait until after the first frost, but before the soil gets frozen. Roots grow when the soil temperature is above 40 degrees. Ball and burlapped plants can be planted now, too. The root systems of fall-planted trees and shrubs will have an opportunity to develop and become established now and can take advantage of a growth surge in the spring. Remember to water thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Do not fertilize after planting, though, as it can burn the root system. Also, not all trees and shrubs should be planted at this time. Bare root plants should be planted in late winter when they are completely dormant. Keep mulch away from the base of trees as it promotes rot and diseases. Prune back existing trees and shrubs, except for spring-flowering shrubs. Wait until after they flower in the spring. Remember to compost all those dead heads, pulled weeds, grass clipping and chipped trimmed branches. Dampen them to help with decomposition through the winter. Be cautious to keep diseased plants, leaves and pine needles out of your compost. Lastly, as those chores begin to slow down, winterize your gardening tools. Drain fuel from power equipment before winter storage. Drain and store water hoses. Wrap hydrants and outdoor faucets. Clean and sharpen gardening tools. Coat metal surfaces with a thin film of oil or spray lubricant to prevent rust. Then sit back, peruse the seed catalogs to plan your gardens for next year and enjoy Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Enid High School has a new basketball coach this year with a new vision for the program, and with the new vision, he hopes a new level of success. “I’m really looking forward to this season,” Coach Jonathan Reed said, “we have started to change the culture, and hopefully that turns into more wins on the Court.”
Coach Reed has coached at several different levels of basketball from high school to the pros, and is most well-known around Enid as the Team Market Owner of the Enid Outlaws professional basketball team. “The Outlaws came out of the work I have done as the owner of “On Point Hoops” a development program for guys out of high school to get to college or the pros. I’ve also coached at Piedmont, Western Heights, Central Florida College (Jr. College) and in Ireland, so I have a good idea of what kind of system I’d like us to run here in Enid.” Coach Reed said.
Before they even hit the practice court, Coach Reed emphasized that he wanted a certain culture and attitude for his team, both on and off the court. “We, as coaches, are going to hold these young men accountable every day. I am excited that every coach of ours but one is in the building teaching, so we see these guys every day. We are visible and making sure they are taking care of their business so they stay eligible, one, and to develop them as young men EHS can be proud of. Doing things the right way off the court turns into success on the court.”
As far as his plans on the court, Coach Reed said “I got to know a lot of the players and their games over the summer. We did a team camp at Oklahoma Christian and while we didn’t win all our games we were competitive, and it gave me a good idea of what we were going to be working with. We are going to start with a tough man-to-man defense first, which leads to offense. On offense, we will push when we are able, but pull back and run our half-court offense if a good play isn’t there. Our offense is equal opportunity and free-flowing. I want them to pass the ball and take open shots. Our strength will probably be in transition and in the paint. We are still looking for some consistency and someone to really step up shooting the ball from distance so we can stretch the floor a bit.”
While the team does have some returning players, Coach Reed predicted there could be some new faces. “Right now I am really impressed with our Power Forward Tre Davis (Sophomore) and Center Evante Warren (Senior). They are kids that really like to bang around and should be really good around the rim. Junior Guard Ayden Iverson is another guy that has stood out. He’s an explosive guard that shares the ball and plays hard. He’s got a developing shot, that is just getting better. I’m also excited about Junior Brandon Sears. He’s really put in the work over the summer and had a great preseason and a great attitude. We are still figuring it out, but he will play a role for us this year.”
With the newcomers and the guys Reed has returning, this year’s basketball team has some lofty goals. They are excited to put on a show for Enid.
Plainsmen/Pacer Pride of the Plains Proudly Brought to you by Slater Mechanical!
November 2 7 pm Karaoke! RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
November 3 7 pm Trivia! Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)
November 4-5 4 pm-9 pm Friday, 7 am-2 pm Saturday Mennonite Relief Sale Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue) One of 46 held in the U.S. and Canada to raise money for the Mennonite Central Committee.
November 4 9 pm Live Music: The Peachtrees The Spot (417 N. Grand)
November 5 8 am-5 pm Enid Hamfest Amateur Radio Event Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)
9 am Veterans Appreciation Week: Ride to Remember Poker Run Woodring Regional Airport (1026 S. 66th St.)
9 am-12 pm Enid Cars & Coffee: Christmas Gift Drive Blazes BBQ (1002 W. Willow)
9 am-5 pm Antiques & Handcraft Fair The Farm on Norman (1401 Norman Rd.)
10 am-4 pm Return of the Rod Run Elks Lodge (700 W. Oxford)
11 am-3 pm History Alive! Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.) Re-enactment characters portray life at the time of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893
12 pm Fundraiser: Cornhole Tournament for Coats for Kids Oakwood Country Club (1601 N. Oakwood Rd.) For more information contact Shannon Clayton (580) 231-2154
12 pm- 2 pm Book Signing: Amy Prokopis Putnam Six Bookstore (610 S. Cleveland)
7 pm-9:30 pm Enid SPCA Annual Festival: Adventure Awaits Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue)
7 pm Live Music: Stacey Sanders Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
7 pm Golden Girls and Grumpy Old Men Party RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)
9 pm Live Music: All Town The Spot (417 N. Grand)
November 7 6:30 pm Veterans Appreciation Week: Operation Yellow Ribbon Kickoff Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)
November 8 10 am Veterans Appreciation Week: Tree Planting & POW Honor Ceremony Vance AFB (1601 Fox Dr.)
November 9 11 am-2 pm Veterans Appreciation Week: Veterans Day Luncheon First Baptist Church (401 W. Maine) For Veterans and a guest
6:30 pm – 8 pm Open House: Blossom Beauty Bar Blossom Beauty Bar (2601 N. Van Buren)
7 pm Karaoke! RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
November 10 7 pm Trivia! Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)
November 11 6:30 pm Veterans Appreciation Week: Legacy Award Ceremony Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) Be among the first to see an authentic Huey Helicopter that flew in Vietnam.
9 pm Live Music: Zach Crow The Spot (417 N. Grand)
November 12 8 am-12 pm Cars and Coffee Blaze’s BBQ (1002 W. Willow)
9 am-4 pm Vance Spouse’s Club Holiday Marketplace Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue)
11 am Parade: A Salute to our Veterans Parade Downtown Enid
12 pm- 2 pm Book Signing: Kent McInnis Putnam Six Bookstore (610 S. Cleveland)
6 pm-11 pm Taste of St. Joe’s Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence) Fundraiser for St. Joseph’s Catholic School
7 pm All White Party RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
7 pm Live Music: Dan Martin Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)
10 pm Live Music: Jake Bowers and the Outsiders The Spot (417 N. Grand)
November 15 5 pm-7 pm Kids’ Cookies & Crafts Workshops The Farm on Norman (1401 Norman Rd.)
November 16 7 pm Karaoke! RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
November 17 5:30 pm Enid Young Professional Network @ Nite Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
6 pm – 7 pm Free Speaker: Tim DeClerck Brookdale Senior Living Mr. DeClerck will be speaking on recent changes regarding Durable Power of Attorneys and Advanced Directive Act. Please RSVP by Nov. 14 to (405) 229-4334
7 pm Trivia! Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)
November 18-January 7 Holidays on Ice in Downtown Enid (400 S. Independence) Hours: Monday-Thursday 3 pm-9 pm Friday 3 pm-11 pm Saturday 12 pm-11 pm Sunday 12 pm-9 pm
November 18 4 pm Author Visit: Ed Grover (Life’s Ponderous Adventure) Enid Public Library (120 W. Maine)
6:45 pm-8:45 pm Date Night Pie & Mocktail Tasting Event The Farm on Norman (1401 Norman Rd.)
6 pm – 8 pm Holidays at Heritage Hills Heritage Hills Shopping Center (W. Willow) Shopping, Coffee Inclinations, Pictures with Santa and MORE!
November 19-20 9 am-6 pm Saturday, 11 am-5 pm Sunday Home for the Holidays Home and Garden, Craft and Gift Show Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue)
November 19 10 am-4 pm Pop Ups on Park St. Park St. Event Venue (150 W. Park St.)
11 am-3 pm History Alive! Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.) Re-enactment characters portray life at the time of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893
4 pm – 7:30 pm Fundraiser: Holiday Dinner Enid Oddfellows Lodge (2920 E. Cypress) 4-12 years ($5), adults ($10), under 3 (free)
4 pm-7 pm City of Enid Parks & Rec presents Parents’ Night Out Champion Gym (700 N. 10th St.) Drop off the kids for an evening of arts, crafts, games and fun
7 pm Live Music: Born in November RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
7 pm Live Music: Stacey Sanders, Lacey Saunders & Kalo Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
7 pm – 11 pm Enid Geeks After Dark Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph) Grab some beer and play some board games (provided) at the first Enid Geeks After Dark event!
9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)
November 23 7 pm Party: Thanksgiving Eve Bash RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
9 pm Live Music: Beautiful Disaster The Spot (417 N. Grand)
9 pm Live Comedy Show Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) Tickets at www.enidbrewing.com
November 24 7:30 am Turkey Trot 5K and 1-mile Fun Run DaVinci’s Coffeehouse (2315 W. Willow) $35 for 5K, $25 for fun run
November 25-26 10 am-5 pm The Market Neighborhood Shops Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence) Holiday craft show
November 25-27 10 am-5 pm Friday & Saturday, 1 pm-5 pm Sunday Christmas at the Farm Red Bird Farm (8812 N Hwy. 81) U-CUT Christmas trees, pre-cut trees, wreaths, petting zoo, gift shop
November 25 4:30 pm-8 pm Enid Lights Up the Plains Downtown Enid Lights Parade, Vendors, Fireworks
7 pm Lighting Ceremony for The One Enid: World’s Largest Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree 150 W. Park Ave. 140-ft tree decorated with 25,000 lights and 10,000 ornaments, will stand through January 3
7 pm Live Music: Stacey Sanders & Ben Blankenship Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
November 26 7:30 pm Enid Symphony Orchestra presents Christmas on Broadway Enid Symphony Center (301 W. Broadway)
7 pm Great Gatsby Party RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
7 pm Live Music: Rocky Kenaga Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
8 pm – 11 pm Live Music: Robert Allen Elk’s Lodge (700 W. Oxford)
9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)
November 29 7 pm Dinner & Dominos Enid Oddfellows Lodge (2920 E. Cypress)
November 30 7 pm Karaoke! RED Nightclub (302 E. Maple)
9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)
HI! And welcome to the November Teen Scene column in Enid Monthly! This month is Thankgiving, so I was thinking about ways that I have given back and why it’s important to give back to our community. Giving back is one of the most helpful things you can do in a community, to a friend or even to a stranger. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!!
I’ve given back in a few ways and you probably have to without even knowing! It could a simple act of kindness like holding the door for a stranger or helping out at a local shelter. My best friend Mallie would help out at one of our local shelters, Forgotten Ministries, and would get so excited about it. She loved going and helping fix plates and serve food, do their laundry, clean out lockers, and play games with the people there. My friend Bree has also helped at the local Homeless shelter by serving food, making their beds, and helping clean the shelter. She also helps volunteer at her church sometimes. One thing she’s done is clean up the road her church owns. She said she loves volunteering and makes it feel like she accomplished something not many people can say they’ve done. I’ve never helped out at a shelter but I think it would be really awesome to do one day.
Every time I make money, or get a present of money, I put 10% of it in a little piggy bank called “Give” and use the money to donate, or buy presents for friends and family. When I was younger I would donate to the ESPCA or the youth shelter and when I saw their faces when we handed them the donation it made me feel so sweet and special.
Giving back is really important because you never know who or how many people you’ll bless. Even donating $5 to a local business or buying a simple item can mean so much to the owners or employees. In my opinion, there’s not a better feeling than making someone smile, especially when they are having a bad day.
Thank you for reading this month’s article. I hope you enjoyed it!! The month of November is known for ThanksGIVING so I hope you all have a great one! Remember if you have any questions, comments, or ideas on upcoming articles email me at tweensceneenid@gmail.com I would also love to hear your experiences at giving back so email me for that too! I hope you all have an amazing November and a happy fall!!
When you say “Chick-fil-A” many people outside of Enid think of chicken sandwiches, nuggets, waffle fries, or incredibly great service. But here in Enid, you can hardly find anyone that does not immediately think of Connie Sturgeon-Hart. She is not only a great Chick-fil-A operator but an amazing mother, grandmother, friend, community supporter and so much more! The story of how she became an “operator” is amazing in itself, but that is a story for another time.
If there is an area school, athletic group or organization that needs support, Connie is always willing to allow them in for Chick-fil-A “night outs”. Attending a local event in town? More than likely, you will see Chick-fil-A sponsoring in some capacity. (Or at least have the “cow” make an appearance!) Connie’s support for 4RKids and the special needs youth and adults in our community is unmatched! Even with her busy schedule, she still finds time to volunteer on the Board of Directors at 4RKids and supports many other charity organizations locally. However, giving back to her community is not all that she does! There is so much more to Connie Sturgeon-Hart!
Is Connie a “Local Legend”? Absolutely! Very rarely do you enter Chick-fil-A or go through the drive-through without seeing Connie either helping her employees work in the back or out conversing with customers in the lobby. She leads her team as a servant leader and holds everyone to a high standard. Youths and adults want to work for her because they respect her leadership and willingness to get in the trenches with them when needed. Connie is a woman with grit and determination and is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and put in the work!
I am proud to recommend Connie Sturgeon-Hart as a Enid Local Legend! Friend, Family, Leader, Local Legend!
Local Legends is proudly presented by Humphrey and Guarantee Abstract Company!
So many of us know we are getting together with our loved ones this holiday season. We know we will have the best meals, a roof over our heads, and a kitchen to cook in. There are so many in our community who don’t have those same blessings in life. Have you ever wanted to do something small that has a big reward? Do you often wonder how you can contribute to those in need? Here are four amazing local organizations you can give to this Holiday season:
Loaves and Fishes
Loaves and Fishes has been a great resource for families in need for 10 years. In 2022 they partnered with United States Postal Carriers of Garfield County for a food drive that brought in over 24,000 pounds of food. Eisenhower Elementary School has been a great partner for Loaves and Fishes for the last four years. Eisenhower puts on a food drive every year from the beginning of October to the Beginning of November. The school makes a competition out of it between Pre-K-2nd and 3rd-5th grades. Last year Eisenhower donated over 550 pounds of non-perishable items. Eisenhower paved the way for the district to select Loaves and Fishes as the non-profit to donate to by all Enid Public Elementary Schools.
Loaves and Fishes is always in need of donations and volunteers. Donated items can be dropped off Monday- Thursday 8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. Non-perishable items can only be dropped off after hours in their outside bin located at 701 E. Maine St. Most needed items include boxed mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin, green beans, and frozen turkeys (must be USDA approved). If you are looking to volunteer please visit their website at LoavesAndFishesNWOK.org or email info@loavesandfishes.org.
RSVP
RSVP opened its doors on December 3, 1981 and has continued to be an advocate for senior citizens and is dedicated to providing a voice for those in need. RSVP gives a place for Enid’s seniors to gather and play games so they can socialize and have a warm meal. RSVP also delivers meals to roughly 100 people every single weekday and delivers food boxes to 288 people once a month.
At the Senior Center, it is not about if a person is rich or poor, it is about making a connection. Most of their visitors are looking for friendships, people to have a conversation with, play pool or bingo or just have lunch. They have singles and married couples that range from their 60’s to 90’s. When some first come they may not interact or talk much but pretty soon they make eye contact, start to smile and begin coming earlier and leaving later because they have made that connection. It’s a powerful thing to see them grow stronger emotionally and physically.
The commodity box program is for seniors 60 and older. It provides a 40-pound box of food once a month to low-income seniors. If anyone is in need, they can call or go by the Senior Center or RSVP for an application. Another great program by RSVP is the mobile meal program. They serve approximately 100 people in our community. Meals are delivered on a daily basis Monday through Friday. The meals are $67 per month and there is a scholarship fund for seniors with financial hardship. For many, it’s the only hot meal they receive in a day. Also, the program provides the only personal contact that the client has all week. RSVP also provides transportation for seniors that need rides to appointments in town. The Senior Center also has limited transportation for those that would like to attend but do not drive.
RSVP is hosting a Thanksgiving Luncheon at the Senior Center on November 22nd. They would greatly appreciate all non-perishable donations. They want all their Seniors to have a Thanksgiving meal and to bring joy to their holiday season. They also want to have a Christmas gift for each of their seniors and would love gift donations. All donations can be dropped off at 605 N Van Buren or 202 W. Walnut. Volunteers are also needed year-round. Please call (580) 233-5914 or visit rsvpenid.org for more information on getting involved.
Shepherd’s Cupboard
If you have ever been to the pumpkin patch on Randolph then you have been to Shepherd’s Cupboard. Shepherds’ Cupboard has been a staple in Enid for 25 years. In October alone they fed over 143 families on the first Wednesday of the month. The first and second Wednesdays from 9 A.M. – 11 A.M. Shepherd’s Cupboard hands out bagged groceries to families in need. They do their best to make sure all families are provided with enough items and do not have to go hungry. They also like to keep their pantry stocked so if someone finds themselves in need, they are able to bag up enough groceries to make it through.
Willow View United Methodist is their biggest contributor and makes a recurring monthly donation. Tyson Foods charitably donates a lot of its meat products but they still need donations from the community. Perishable and Non-perishable items can be dropped off daily at 2418 W. Randolph Ave. They have a large need for all canned goods. If volunteering is more your style, please visit https://www.foodpantries.org/li/ok_73701_shepherds-cupboard.
YWCA
The YWCA has an amazing mission to help women survivors and their children. They help them to completely start over with all day-to-day items and food. Their goal is to start the survivors on a path of strength and dignity so when they do leave, they are confident in themselves and ready for their new start in life. The YWCA goes above and beyond to provide help and hope in the Enid community.
The YWCA gives back to the community in so many other ways. My Sister’s Closet is a free program for the community. If a family or person is finding themselves in need, this program can help them start over. The YWCA also provides a program for youth who need formal wear, shoes and accessories for events such as prom called Project Cinderella. The YWCA offers a free counseling crisis hotline that can be reached 24/7 at (580) 234-7644. Furthermore, the YWCA has an LPC and social worker on staff who offers weekly individual and group therapy free to anyone in the community. This is an asset to Enid as there is a surge in mental health crises during the holiday season. They also offer several other programs that can be found at ywcaenid.com.
The YWCA tries to make the holiday season as normal and beautiful as possible for the survivors. To do that, they need donations of all kinds. Any and all food items are always needed and appreciated for the communal kitchen the survivors and their families share. All hygiene products and clothing are needed as well. When donating clothing, the hope is for survivors to feel a sense of dignity and empowerment, so they like to offer women items in gently used or new condition. Gift cards to places such as TJ Maxx, Ross, Wal-Mart are another great option when donating, this gives the survivors the opportunity to shop for themselves and take back some control in their lives. Someone is always on-site at the YWCA to accept the gift cards. All donations can be dropped off at any time at their loading dock at 525 S Quincy St. Tax receipts are also available when they are checking the donations. Volunteers are needed in many different areas as well. Whether it be sorting food and clothes, being an advocate for the survivors, or general office work. Please reach out to their website or contact them at (580) 234-7581. It’s small choices that make big impacts on the lives of others. When you’re at the grocery store and see the turkeys in the freezer or canned goods on the shelf, consider buying an extra this time and donating it to Loaves and Fishes or Shepherds Cupboard. Walking around at Walmart gathering your weekly list, throw in a small gift for a Senior Citizen and donate it to RSVP. Ordering your deliveries online? This time, order a basic needs item and take it to the YWCA. This holiday season let’s take a moment to give back, nothing is too big or too small. Sometimes it is the items we take for granted that could change someone else’s life. This year I hope as a community we all have a Happy ThanksGIVING.
