olddude, tulsa (7/30/2009 6:11:52 AM)

Does anyone know when the tax free shopping day is befor school starts?

PhoenixIX, Jenks (7/30/2009 6:14:16 AM)

These are wonderful programs that should be applauded and supported.

But, the availability of these "freebies" does not reduce the culpability of the irresponsible parent(s) who spend their money unwisely.

Parents have a year with which to prepare for school opening and they should do it (prepare).

It could mean deleting such "necessities" as cigarettes, beer and liquor, cell phones and cable.

A Parent should be responsible enough to provicde these things for their children.

reckless abandon, Tulsa (7/30/2009 7:37:28 AM)

It sure would be nice to see an article like this followed by comments like "what can I do to help?" or "Great idea--good job." Intead we get the usual "How about me" or the "poor are just irresponsible." I belileve Jesus said "the poor will always be with us"--meaning our responsibility to them will never end. He also said "Judge not, least you be judged"

What in the World!, T (7/30/2009 8:55:32 AM)

I hope all the children get what they need. Thank God for organizations and people who care about others. I do not think a child should be penalized for their parents stupidity, laziness or addiction!

mrducks, (7/30/2009 9:55:14 AM)

reckless abandon, as "usual" I have no problem "helping" people who have been sidetracked by the death of a provider, illness, etc. I get a little frayed around the edges when I see people who actually EXPECT others to "help" them even though they are CAPABLE of helping themselves but CHOOSE not to. Those are the people that I believe PhoenixIX was referring to. But just put your rose colored glasses back on and everything will be all right.

Mar, Tulsa (7/30/2009 10:55:17 AM)

And so it continues: You have a baby out of wedlock, medicaid pays for the hospitalization; WIC is received along with food stamps and welfare. All medical is paid for by medicaid, child care is provided or partially paid if the mom works; free or reduced school lunches are provided, free school supplies are given, free haircuts for back to school, free coats, Christmas time there are free presents, free bicycles, free grants for college if the child graduates from high school, that is.

Where does it end? No wonder women are having children left and right by every man they meet. There is no personal responsibility having to be made by the mom or dad. She just delivers the baby and everything else is provided for the children.

Mar, Tulsa (7/30/2009 10:58:39 AM)

Great comment PhoenixIX and mrducks, I agree with you.

psychedelikrelik, Tulsa (7/30/2009 12:01:09 PM)

I feel sorry for you hard-hearted and jaded commenters. Where is your empathy? Do you realize that in a heartbeat you could lose everything and be in a situation where you must rely on the kindness of strangers?

Sure, there will always be some who game the system. But why must the children suffer? Why do you want to throw out the baby with the bathwater?

I read so many anti-abortion comments but these same folks are the ones who don't give a whit about a kid once he's exited the birth canal.

reckless abandon, Tulsa (7/30/2009 1:10:17 PM)

so what are we supposed to do--abort the babies or let the kids starve to teach their folks a lesson? I wish infants were put up for adoption--but they aren't. And I wish we didn't need meals on wheels because family and neighbors took care of our old folk, but they don't. My glasses are hardly rose-colored--but my heart is not hardened, even after years and years of providing health care to the poor, disadvantaged and disabled.

human1, A change is gonna come someday (7/30/2009 1:11:37 PM)

This is a great program. Many children live with grandparents on limited whose income is limited.

These comments are so cruel. Some women man have left abusive husbands and are now on AFDC. They may have been pregnant when they got divorced and needed assistance.

I agree with psychedelikrelik's comment about those anti abortionist who do not a whit one a child exits the birth canal.

Isn't this what the Republican's say they support, communities helping people!

Jake Elwood, Tulsa (7/30/2009 4:33:00 PM)

What are you people complaining about? I find most of these comments here absolutely disgusting. With your reasoning and rationale, it is no wonder that Oklahoma children are underperforming scholastically. I have two children, one in private school and the other in public. I just wrote a check for my daughter’s tuition that cost more than a year at any of the public universities here in Oklahoma and offered to donate supplies and/or financial support to my son’s classroom for any lessons or projects that the teacher may find useful for the classroom, but might fall outside of their budget. I’m not telling you this to brag, but instead to enlighten you as to why. I want my children to take advantage of each and every resource available to them to improve their lives both mentally and physically; I don’t want their learning to be hindered by a less-fortunate classmate who was unable to participate or slowed the class down for lacking supplies.
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You people do realize that these children are going to be creating policy, running this country and yes, taking care of us in the not-so-distant future. Would you like for those children to be well educated and humbled or would you prefer that they be slow and dim-witted all because some selfish adults complained about provided them paper and pencils when they were little?
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By the way, we had our daughter out of wedlock as you mentioned above and I can guarantee you, with the utmost certainty that she leads a far better, more fulfilling life than a significant number of children out their whose parents were married during their birth. I would even venture to say that she has a more secure financial future than most of you adults commenting here today. I am a Republican and I’m typically as conservative as they come and I feel that people are primarily responsible for their own actions and outcome in life, but these are children. You people absolutely disgust me and you are everything that is wrong with Oklahoma and our party.

stormytyca, Tulsa (7/30/2009 4:55:07 PM)

wow, Jake, I think you're the first conservative I can say that I agree with your statement completely.

On a seperate note, however... Gift certificates to UNIFORM SHOPS???? Um... aren't most of the people who NEED these services sending their kids to, I dunno... PUBLIC SCHOOL, where uniforms are NOT REQUIRED??

stormytyca, Tulsa (7/30/2009 4:59:28 PM)

to elaborate... it's clothes, yes, and I would donate myself if I weren't living paycheck to paycheck in the current economy... however, if those gift cards are from donated money, you could get 2-3 shirts (that's pushing it) from the uniform shop, or up to 20 shirts at Salvation Army stores (I've been in a position before where I needed to shop there because of financial hardships), for the SAME TEN DOLLARS!

psychedelikrelik, Tulsa (7/30/2009 6:19:25 PM)

stormytyca, there are many public schools in town that require uniforms. My daughter wore uniforms to Mayo and Thoreau. There are lots of used items for sale at K Renee's. I've gotten shorts, slacks, shirts, jumpers, skirts and blouses, all gently-used and a good value.

Believe me, at that time we were p-o-o-r.

Better Than, Tulsa (7/30/2009 7:28:07 PM)

Are we so hard-hearted we don't even want to help innocent children? I am more than willing to donate for school supplies and will do so.

Jake Elwood, Tulsa (7/30/2009 10:27:18 PM)

stormytyca,even in private schools there are numerous families who lack the resources that others have. Some families make the needed sacrifices to keep their children in the absolute best schools, but whether rich or poor,public or private; school uniforms are neither a cheap nor inexpensive acquisition.

Bedazzled, (7/31/2009 12:58:58 AM)

Olddude, Tax shopping day is the week of August 7 thru-9, 2009

Bedazzled, (7/31/2009 1:04:18 AM)

I do feel sorry for these people one can lose their job and everything in a heartbeat or a storm or illness can wipe one out. This is sad in America today.

Medicaid is only used for people with Disabilities and illnesses. Not for someone having a baby out of wedlock. The people who have insurance pay for the uninsureds. People have to show proof that they are truly ill from a doctor to get on Medicaid.

Bedazzled, (7/31/2009 1:18:37 AM)

Delete the not meant to say and for someone having a baby out of wedlock.

Bedazzled, (7/31/2009 1:42:36 AM)

Medicaid is used for people with disabilities and illnesses and young woman having a baby out of wedlock. The government runs this and I am happy it is available for people who really need it.

Delete both of my comments above. I got sidetracked with the wrong comment.

getrdone, Tulsa (8/14/2009 10:25:00 PM)

My neighbor is a 73 yr old woman raising 4 grandchildren ages 6-12, she goes for dialysis 3 times a week, draws $718./month Social Sec. and on this supports herself and these grandchildren. She is wheelchair bound and just left my home feeling at a complete loss. I have never seen her with a defeated mood until now as her grandbabies had went to the stuff a bus program and were unable to obtain desperately needed school supplies as it seems they were to have a ticket of some sort that the children were to compete for. I am most grateful for tulsa world publishing this article as I got online to seek what sort of help there is available for these children. She seeks no help from any other agency, supports all of them on her retirement. These children are the best behaved I have seen in a very long time, she has done an excellent job raising them but now has no money to buy the uniforms, undergarments, school supplies needed and every venue to date has failed them to obtain these items. I saw some options for these weekend that might help them and will pursue those. The grandmother is not able to drive which is an obstacle for her during such times to help the kids. She is a role model for how families use to care for the children when none were left to do so and has asked for nothing of the state and has done a beautiful job. People like this are deserving of any and all assistance others can provide. We are all neighbors and children are not accountable for the situations they find themselves in. Our neighbors children live in fear of loosing their grandmother and if some learn she cannot get the school uniforms/supplies they will be put in foster care. They need to stay where they are as neighbors look out for them all.
Thanks to all who posted supportive comments and the willingness to contribute to help the children who are the future. If we don't who will and don't we all share in this responsibility? Had the paper not published resources I would not have a clue where to turn to help our good neighbor and her grandbabies.