OKIE Tamatha Hoffman

Dec. 30—Tamatha Hoffman says she feels called to help and encourage others.

Part of this calling comes form her job as admissions and marketing director at Dogwood Creek Assisted Living Center. The Muskogee native said she worked at a hospice in Tulsa before taking her current job.

"I feel God has placed me here to be the helper for those who are going to be needing it," she said. "He knew there was going to be people in this position who were going to need help. There's been several people I went to school with; their parents need assistance."

Hoffman said she seeks to be a friend to the residents.

"A lot of times they want to hang out and visit," she said. "Maybe they have a light bulb out, and they're familiar with me because they know me and trust me. If something's going on or they need help with something, I'll get in contact with the person who can take care of it."

She recalled sharing residents' joy recently when they got to watch the Muskogee Roughers football bonfire at the high school, located next to Dogwood Creek.

Part of Hoffman's work gets her out into the community. She said she attended Chamber of Commerce meetings, Exchange Club meetings, Rotary meetings. However, Muskogee Salvation Army found a place in her heart and Hoffman soon got involved with the advisory board and women's auxiliary.

Hoffman also seeks to encourage her own four grandchildren.

"There's been a lot of influential women in my life that always taught me different things," she said. "The one thing my grandma Bessie always said was 'if you never remember anything else I taught you, always remember to take your kids to church.'"

She said her four grandchildren love going to church with Grammy and Paw Paw.

"That's a big, special time for us, to take the grands to church," she said. "And I try to teach those girls about being little ladies. I try to teach them how to act in public, how ladies are expected to be."

Helping those

who help others

Tamatha Hoffman said she's involved with the Salvation Army because she knows how it helps others.

"I know, there was a time in my life I needed help paying my electric bill, and the Salvation Army covered it," she said. "So I feel it's me giving back for that one time the Salvation Army helped me. I cannot personally give money to people, but I can help raise money and all the money is accounted for."

Hoffman said she joined the advisory board, which spurred her to other areas.

"Whenever we'd go to our advisory board meetings and they'd ask about the women's auxiliary, but there would be nothing new because of COVID," she said. "I asked what can I do to get auxiliary back up and running, What do we do to help. Next thing you know I was president of women's auxiliary."

Women's auxiliary work

keeps Hoffman busy

"We help fill the pantry," she said. "The last year, my friend Chell Fausett and I had a competition. She works for the radio station. She and I decided that, since they needed cereal in the pantry, we would do a competition. So it was Dogwood Creek against the radio station. We were able to collect over 400 boxes of cereal for the pantry. It was a fun little competition."

The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary also raises money to send children to Salvation Army Camp Heart O'Hills near Welling.

"Every year we send 15 children to summer camp," Hoffman said. "It costs, like, $300 per child. So if you figure $300 times 15, that's a lot of money. This year, we'll plan a lot more fundraisers."

The auxiliary hosted a Craftique show last June at Muskogee Civic Center.

"We had several vendors show up," Hoffman said. "We were able to raise enough money to send those kids to camp and had a little bit left over. That's one of our priorities."

Hoffman said she gets more satisfaction than she puts in.

"When I was ringing the bell, I can't tell you how many people came to me not only to drop money into the kettle, but to say 'thank you' because the Salvation Army has helped so many people. I want to be part of an organization that does help."

Not limited

by job title

Hoffman doesn't let her job title limit what she does at the center.

One of her biggest and most enjoyable tasks is the annual adopt-a-grandparent Christmas party, the same day as the center's veterans observance.

"I put a post on Facebook, and people from all over reach out to me and say 'I want to adopt a grandparent,'" she said. "I get the wish list the resident filled out, take a picture of it with resident's initials. The person that adopted them buys what's on the wish list. The person is invited to the party and the big thing is that the residents are excited about seeing who adopted them."

She said the residents look forward to the event each year. This year's entertainment was provided by Salvation Army Majors Kelly and Regina Durant and by an Elvis impersonator, John Lindsay. Hospice and home health agencies also provide food and supplies.

"They appreciate the gifts and they love the visits," she said. "It's not so much about the presents, but the presence."

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE AN OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE?

"I was born here, and moved back home 10-12 years ago."

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT MUSKOGEE?

"For me, I like all of the convenience of getting everything I need, whether it's from Walmart, the cleaners, the dog groomers, the bank. The friendliness. The community."

WHAT WOULD MAKE MUSKOGEE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE?

"For myself and my husband, we like to go dancing, but we would like age appropriate dancing. We don't want to dance with a bunch of teeny boppers, maybe a place for older adults and families. I would love to be able to have an Incredible Pizza here, where we can take the grandkids and let them run and play all day. We can have pizza and hang out. More of a family oriented place that doesn't have alcoholic beverages."

WHAT PERSON IN MUSKOGEE DO YOU ADMIRE MOST?

"Pamela Wright. She's not only the pastor's wife, she's a great friend and leader to her church and everyone she comes into contact with. She's a great example of what a wife should be and what a mother should be, and what a friend should be."

WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE THING TO HAPPEN TO YOU IN MUSKOGEE?

"Watching the community help with the adopt a grandparent event. Every year, we put on the Adopt-a-grandparent event. I ask the community to adopt a resident, to not only purchase them something, but to visit. I invite them to the party. We have Elvis who comes."

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

"I have these grandkids who keep me pretty busy. My husband and I may go dancing. We help out at the church a lot."

HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP MUSKOGEE IN 25 WORDS OR LESS?

"A small community with a big heart. There's always room for growth. I think it's a great community where they help each other.