Rambo described some of the people he sees, while he and other drivers deliver 1,200 meals daily: Andy, who requests dog food for his puppy and close companion, Edna, "a special lady," Kevin, who's in a wheelchair and Veril, who's "so appreciative and makes my day."

"Those are the kind of people you support day in and day out," he said.

Collins, president of the United Way of Norman, said "change seems to be the topic of the season" in recent political debates.

"If someone wants to see positive change, come to Norman, Oklahoma," she said. "For 51 years, the United Way of Norman has been doing amazing work to improve the quality of life for thousands."

Commenting on Money Magazine's annual ranking of the best places to live in America, Collins said: "You can't tell me Norman is the sixth best place to live based solely on economic indicators."

There's still lots of work to be done, Collins said.

"The great news is you're here and we're standing in the gap. Together we're working hard, have worked hard and will continue working hard ..."

Before closing, Collins quoted Leo Rosten: "I cannot believe that the purpose of life is simply to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that we lived at all."

For more information on agency services, or to make a donation to the United Way of Norman, call 329-2025.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com