Catholic church opens doors to Bullard seniors
By Lori Thomason

As Bullard's growth continues, so does the range of services offered. But one area sorely lacking is now getting attention.

Dr. Marjorie Roper Studdard is helping lead the charge for a place for senior citizens to gather. And Tyler's Catholic Diocese is helping out.

The Diocese recently purchased the building that formerly housed a Baptist church on Lynch - but has been abandoned for a few years.

Meals

Studdard said the Diocese has offered space

seniors, and a grand opening is set for noon Dec. 5.

The event will be a potluck lunch. Bullard City Manager Larry Morgan said he knows seniors used to meet behind city hall, but believes the building was destroyed about 1997 and the seniors' group disbanded.

"I think it's wonderful," Morgan said. "As cities grow, they can't forget the needs of those less fortunate."

Morgan said First United Methodist has been a great example in that area.

"The vital services provided by churches should never be underestimated," he said.

Bullard's Methodist Church provides clothing, a food pantry and recently added a clinic.

Other area churches partner with FUMC on projects - even though the church houses the efforts.

"We know there is a lot of interest, but we need to determine what direction we need to take," Studdard said.

Bullard seniors used to have an extensive Meals on Wheels program. Now, only a few meals are delivered in Bullard to homebound people.

Studdard said expanding Meals on Wheels is one option, but funding has been cut in that area recently.

"There is a real need here," she said.

And it's not just in the food area. The Northeast Texas Public Health District continues dipping into its reserve.

The health district is growing, but the funding isn't.

"We can't grow correctly," said Linda Oyer, director of community health clinics. "We scrimp and save, but we need a lot more tools and a lot more staff. It's very, very tough, but our people are very dedicated, and they're working for wages nobody in this town works for."

Federal grants have been cut, causing health district officials to search elsewhere for funds.

Officials have already taken steps to shave the budget by reducing some services, Oyer said.

She eliminated the position of a physician that visited the treatment clinic a half-day each week. The mobile unit van now only visits Bullard two days a month and will not visit the other sites in Troup, Winona and North Tyler as officials had originally planned, she said.

Oyer said she's optimistic that the shortfalls in this fiscal year won't hurt the health district's application for FQHC lookalike status. If granted look-alike status, the community health clinics could receive greater reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid.

"We can't afford a big hit anywhere," she said.