SENIOR CENTER STRUGGLES TO MAKE PAYMENTS

A year after opening the Cape Girardeau Senior Center on North Clark Street, the non-profit agency is struggling to make its monthly payments.

Senior Center leaders held a press conference Tuesday announcing that it will kick off a campaign aimed at raising a half-million dollars. The three-month campaign begins in April.

"We had to start this with a lot of prayers. We've got quite a bit accomplished. But we have more to do. We need donations," said John Seary, a Senior Center board member.

The center does not have any major fund-raisers planned, but will rely on donations from businesses and individuals. It will send letters next month to county voters asking for donations.

The center now owes $400,000 to its creditor, Boatmen's National Bank. It has already paid off the $47,750 cost of buying the 4.5-acre property. The center is tax-exempt and does not pay county property taxes.

Any money raised over $400,000 would go toward upgrading the building, including a plan to build a porch on the south side of the property, said Max Stovall, president of the center's board.

The center is now struggling to make its monthly $2,700 payment. It barely raises the money through donations, bake sales and other fund-raisers, said Cleo Mabrey, a Senior Center board member who is in charge of the campaign.

The center serves nearly 600 meals a week to area seniors, including 250 meals delivered to the homebound. It also provides recreation for seniors including daily exercises. It is considering hiring a part-time recreation director, Stovall said.

Over 3,000 county residents are members of the center, which entertains about 200 seniors a day. "The people like this," Stovall said. "It gives seniors things to do. It gives them a place to read, a place for television and meals. It goes a long way to keeping people out of nursing homes. There's a great sense of camaraderie."

The center now is operating on a $156,871 annual budget. Most of its budget is financed through state and federal grants. The United Way also contributes about $10,000 a year. However, none of that money can go toward paying off the mortgage, Stovall said.

"We all have to care about each other. The needs of the senior citizens are extremely important," said Secretary of State Judi Moriarty, who attended the press conference.