At the Jan. 27 Oceana County Council on Aging (OCCOA) board of directors meeting, minutes from Dec. 9 as well as the year-end and December financial reports were accepted unanimously by the board of directors. There were no reports from the personnel or program committees, but Executive Director Stephanie Moore delivered a lengthy report covering the intervening seven weeks between meetings.
Despite the frequent inclement weather of December and January, 991 meals were served between OCCOA and Our Friends House (OFH) adult day services. The annual total for 2025 was 12,451 meals.
Moore reported two successful Christmas luncheons, designed to accommodate as many county seniors as possible. As well as the first of two dinners in their Dinners Around the World Series. The dinner, served on Jan. 24 and featuring food from around the Indian subcontinent, reported 75 attendees, who enjoyed what Moore described as “a more intimate event, but a great success.” One attendee who spoke at public comment praised the OCCOA program and the opportunity to “have a taste of Indian food with the cold weather.”
The Dinners Around the World have become a beloved staple for some seniors. As Moore says, ”It’s been something that people look forward to and something nice we can do in the winter months when things are a little slower.” The second dinner in the series will showcase authentic Mexican cuisine on March 7.
Other winter programs OCCOA implemented over the holiday season were day-outings to Grand Rapids and Christmas light tours. Programming for quarter one of 2026 is still in the works, but nearing finalization.
Due to the frequent snow days and resultant OCCOA closures, transportation numbers have been down. However, OCCOA received a $6,000 bonus from MDOT, distributed by Senior Resources of West Michigan, for a “job well done.” Moore proposed to the board that the bonus go toward the 15 bus drivers on staff, which the board unanimously approved.
Grants, both state and federal, were a significant topic of discussion for much of the meeting. Senior Care Services Director Jaccie Smith updated the board on the success and impact of several grants. Regarding a grant designed to support Direct Care Workers, Smith presented a letter from an unnamed staff member who’d benefited from the financial assistance the grant offered following several unexpected expenses, which allowed her to focus on providing her seniors quality care.
Another grant, the Great Lakes Energy People Fund, which is supported through round-up donations from GLE customers, has been able to provide OCCOA with the ability to purchase and distribute needed medical supplies for seniors such as bedpans, crutches, cotton pads, adult diapers and wipes, shower chairs and over half a dozen walkers.
Smith also took a moment to commend the work of OCCOA’s community living support specialists and the initiative they took to check in on their clients multiple times a day throughout the severe cold weather in January, ensuring they had power, heat and food. “This is who our community living support specialists are. They go above and beyond, not necessarily because it’s required, but because they truly do care.”
Gwen Adams of OCCOA Development and Community Engagement also presented a grant opportunity from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council to the board for approval. This grant is aimed at allowing organizations whose primary functions are not concerned with arts and culture the ability to provide those experiences for their communities. For OCCOA, they plan to ask for $3,199 for a new projector setup to show movies, $680 to bring a traveling Michigan wildlife exhibit to both OCCOA and OFH buildings, and $1,260 for “opening minds through art” staff training, which would allow staff to facilitate and offer programming for seniors living with dementia.
The total asking price for this MACC grant is $5,139, and OCCOA is expected to provide a 25% match for the programs chosen, which Adams was assured the council is capable of providing.
After some questions and discussion, mostly concerning the funding structure, the board unanimously approved of the grant application and submission.
Public comment for the board of directors remains contentious, as it has been since last year. Many community members seeking transparency and accountability from OCCOA, its board and operations (particularly concerning that of OFH) have formed the GRACE group (Grassroots Residents Advocating for Community Elders).
In a letter presented by several members, they informed the board of their recent requests for information and asked, “Can anyone on this board please attempt to work in partnership with us? Can anyone on this board acknowledge that you have a group of disgruntled taxpayers and try to address their concerns?”
They likewise questioned the board’s bylaws pertaining to nominations and appointments to the board of directors and requested OCCOA agree to an external audit.
Also in attendance was Amy Florea, community services director at Senior Resources of West Michigan, who utilized public comment to speak on the role of Senior Resources and their partnership with OCCOA as “an intermediary between government and what happens on the ground.”
Florea also reported on what Oceana County seniors have requested their federal, state and local dollars go towards, primarily funding non-English-speaking programming and resources.
The next OCCOA board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the center, 4250 W. Tyler Rd. Hart.
