Are you OK?

Try RUOK. That’s the name of the program servicing senior citizens locally and administered by the Manteca Police Department’s Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police – or SHARP – unit.

RUOK is a program tending daily to homeward-bound and assisted living seniors. Organizers Monday held a spaghetti dinner and raffle benefit at the Manteca Senior Center.

 According to John Boore, community service manager at the Senior Center, the goal was to raise $1,500 for the software necessary to reinstate the RUOK program.

 “This is a telephone reassurance program for homebound seniors,” he said. “Our plan to help reach this goal is to enlist the support of a multitude of business and community leaders who know and understand the importance of seniors living independently as long as possible.”

Once reinstated, seniors, at no cost, will be contacted via telephone to make sure they’re OK.

“If there’s no response then a member of the SHARP will be instructed to follow-up at the home and check on the status of the homeward bound senior,” Boore said.

Senior advisory committee member and volunteer Don Reed along with his seven-member crew prepared the spaghetti dinner for about 240 expected to attend. Community sponsors and individual benefactors also made possible the prizes used for the drawing.

Reed and company are used to preparing meals for large groups. Every second Tuesday of each month, they’re responsible for the Spaghetti and Bingo event held at the Manteca Senior Center.

“We’re doing this one special just for John (Boore),” Reed said.

Clara Lopez, who, for the past two years, has been a member of SHARP, enjoyed her dinner. She gave it the ‘thumbs up’ but that’s only after tasting the spaghetti.

SHARP is a group of volunteer men and women over the age of 40 dedicated to making a difference by helping improve the community.