EVERY CENT COUNTS: SENIORS PLAN FUND-RAISING DRIVE TO PAY OFF SENIOR CENTER, FUND EXPANSION

The Cape Girardeau Senior Center plans to retire its $300,000 debt with a three year fund-raising campaign.

A new campaign begins this week, headed by Jess Hopple and members of the Senior Center Foundation Board.

"Cape Girardeau has the most caring, most giving mixture of people," Hopple said. "If you give an explicit idea of what you need, without a lot of gravy on it, I don't know of anything that can't be done."

What the Senior Center needs, Hopple said, is to be debt-free.

In 1992, seniors raised enough money to purchase property at 921 N. Clark St. and to convince bankers to loan them $400,000 to build a center.

Since that time, the Senior Center has made monthly mortgage payments, but a $300,000 debt remains. The senior center isn't subsidized. It is supported by donations, gifts and pledges.

The only part of the program which is subsidized is the nutrition program, which provides approximately 215 meals a day.

Down the road, seniors at the center have plans for building improvements. "But we don't think we should make plans for those things until we've paid off our debt," Hopple said. "We will work on these other things one at a time and pay as we go."

For example, they would like to expand the parking lot, add a cover for cars loading up home-delivered meals and another cover to protect the center's five delivery vehicles.

A direct-mail fund-raising campaign will target businesses, civic groups, social clubs and individuals.

"We want to stretch this out over three years," Hopple said. "We don't want to do a big blitz and then have it die out."

Volunteers will follow up with personal contacts and corporate donations will be sought.

Hopple, a retired executive with Ford Motor Co., recently completed a successful fund-raising campaign for Teen Challenge, raising $3.5 million in 14 months.

Hopple said his intention is two-fold. He wants to raise the money to pay off the debt, and he wants to raise awareness of the services the center provides.

In preparation for the campaign, the Senior Center Board of Directors moved from the auspices of the Area Agency on Aging and formed as an independent non-profit organization. This way, Hopple said, donors will have access to additional tax advantages.

A separate bank account has been established to collect funds for retirement of the mortgage.

"It's going to be business as usual during this campaign," Hopple said. "They will continue to make their monthly payments while we continue to put money into this account. Then one month, we'll pay it all off."

An 8-foot thermometer stands outside the building waiting to chart the progress of the campaign.

The program started as a nutrition center. The first meals were served April 15, 1974, when the center was situated at the old Sunny Hill Top of the Hill Restaurant. Later, the center was moved to Middle Street near City Hall, and in 1978 it moved to a building in the Cape County North Park.

That building was in bad condition and razed by the county shortly after the center was moved to the Cape Civic Center's building in November of 1986.

In 1991, the fund-raising went into high gear for a permanent home.

In those 17 years, the program developed into something much more than a nutrition program.

"The meals are still a main part of what we do," said Hopple. "But we have people playing cards, people doing puzzles. These people check up on each other and make sure everyone is doing OK."

Hopple, who is 65, said he's glad to know the program will be around for him as he ages.

"It is a well structured, well organized program," he said.

To make a pledge, or for information about donating, call (573) 335-6666.

CAPE GIRARDEAU SENIOR CENTER SERVICES

*Congregate meals

A hot lunch is served Monday through Friday at a minimal charge in the center's dining room.

*Home-delivered meals

This subsidized service delivers a hot lunch to participants unable to come to the Senior Center. Deliveries are made on a daily basis.

*Recreational activities

The center provides a variety of activities including crafts, bingo, music, movies, cards, quilting, puzzles, fellowship, television, library and Bible study.

*Specialized services

The following services are provided by the center at designated times: blood pressure testing, glaucoma screening, flu shots, hearing clinics, exercise, walking, library services, health promotions, safety promotions, nutrition information, tax preparation, special speakers, vision testing, blood-sugar screening and foot clinics.

The Cape Girardeau Senior Center is located at 921 N. Clark. For additional information or to contribute to the fund-raising drive, call (573) 335-6666.