Jackson Senior Center serving thousands of meals

By Edward Hart

Thank you to the Jackson community for their great support throughout the past 40 years that the Jackson Senior Center has been in operation. In 2005, a new center building was built, and in 2010 a carport for the four center vans was built. These were built with a lot of volunteer labor and donations from business and private citizens in the Jackson community.

The Missouri Foundation for Health granted $100,000 so that we could purchase four new vans. The shelter was built with volunteer workers; we only had to purchase the materials (approximately $12,000). Three businesses in the area have purchased advertising on the vans: Montgomery Bank, Chap Arnold Insurance and Jackson Manor (two vans).

We send out three vans daily, delivering meals to homebound seniors; these vans travel approximately 170 miles each day, Monday through Friday. We served more than 66,524 meals last year with 30,051 of those home delivered. Our drivers are paid employees and we have a volunteer delivery person. Our average gas cost per month is $753. We served an average of 269 meals with our highest daily service being 461 meals. Since moving into our new center, we have served 461,000 noon meals.

We are a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) tax exempt program. Our program depends on all the volunteers who help us. We have 10 or more volunteers daily who help prepare the meals for delivery and for meals at the center. Our program exists because of volunteers and the support of our local business community. All donations are welcome.

Edward Hart is a Cape Girardeau resident and president of the foundation board for the Jackson Senior Center.