SENIOR CENTER HOPES TO PAY OFF DEBT

From its humble beginning as a nutrition center in the old Sunny Hill Top of the Hill Restaurant almost 25 years ago, the Cape Girardeau Senior Center has become a well-used gathering place that not only continues to offer nutritious meals but a multitude of activities for senior citizens.

The program started in the old restaurant in April 1974 and soon moved to a place on South Middle Street near City Hall. In 1978 it moved to an old building in the Cape Girardeau County North Park. When that building was razed for a new Missouri Department of Conservation regional headquarters, the center went to the Cape Civic Center building on Broadway.

Then in 1991, a fund-raising campaign was started. A year later, enough money was raised to buy a site, and the Senior Center board took on a $400,000 mortgage to build the structure that serves as its home at 921 N. Clark St.

Now a fund-raising campaign has been kicked off to raise the money needed to pay off the $300,000 still owed on the building. The Senior Center Foundation Board plans to keep making its monthly mortgage payment, and when the additional money is raised, it will pay off the mortgage.

Through a direct-mail fund-raising campaign that targets businesses, civic groups, social clubs and individuals, the board plans to raise the money within three years. By stretching out the campaign, it hopes to avoid a blitz that might quickly lose steam and come up short of the goal.

The center has left the auspices of the Area Agency on Aging and formed a not-for-profit organization. That will offer tax-deduction incentives to donors in this latest fund-raising campaign.

Noon meals are still a main part of the Senior Center program, but seniors play cards, quilt, read, watch television, put together puzzles, do crafts and participate in other activities at the center. It offers socialization to many who may not otherwise socialize.

The center has come a long way on the generosity of many individuals and businesses in the community as well as those who use the center.

The board already has plans for improvements to the building and hopes to be able to raise enough money through this fund drive to carry out some of those improvements as well. Because it has shown it provides such useful services to so many seniors, it should have little difficulty reaching its goal once again.