THE PUBLIC MIND: COUNCIL ON AGING PRESIDENT DETAILS NUTRITION CENTER FUNDING

To the Editor:

Contrary to some citizens' beliefs, the Cape Nutrition Center does not get full funding from the federal government nor does it have a big bank roll. In this letter, I will outline sources from which the Nutrition Center obtains money to operate. I will also review on what the money is spent.

The Nutrition Center has an annual budget of about $100,000. Of this amount, it receives federal funds of about $35,000. The remaining $65,000 must be raised through local contributions, including some support from United Way. Our 1990 United Way distribution amounted to $9,000.

At the Nutrition Center, we serve a well-balanced noonday meal Monday through Friday each week. On the average, we serve 155 meals per day with about 40 of these being home-delivered to shut-ins. Cost of each meal, including overhead costs, is $2.75. For those 60 years old or older, the recommended donation is $1.50 per meal.

Home-delivered meals have a higher cost to the Center because of packaging and delivery expenses such as gas for the vehicles. However, this is figured in overall costs and, therefore, the recommended donation for home-delivered meals is the same $1.50 each.

Senior citizens unable to pay the recommended donation may donate the amount they can afford. Some make no donation because they are unable to do so. Guests under 60 years old may visit the Center for a meal if accompanied by a senior citizen. The senior must pay the hostess $2.75 for the guest's meal. A senior citizen may bring a guest once each month.

Comparing costs and receipts, the actual donations averages $1.16 for each meal. Reimbursements from the Federal government amounts to 90 cents per meal. Commodity cash in lieu of commodities is 56 cents per meal. If you add these three figures together, the total is $2.62 income per meal as compared to the $2.75 cost. Last year, the Center served 3,000 more meals than budgeted.

The Center pays $850 rent per month. Utility costs average $500-$600 each month. Then the Center must buy groceries. There are other supplies to be purchased, such as soap, paper towels and toilet tissue, which also are used by the Cape Civic Center. There are no state, county or city monies involved in the operation of the Nutrition Center except for the community funds we receive through United Way.

Our own fund-raising events bring in some revenue, most of this marked for capital improvements. Nutrition Center members have a dream of some day owning their own building with adequate floor space and a larger parking area. Our volunteers quilt, make other crafts, hold bake sales, have benefit dances, musical and other programs to raise funds. They hold Schnuck's parties and save Schnuck's cash register tapes. They participate in the Buck-A-Month club, whereby members give $1 per month toward the capital improvement fund. There is also a fund for donations as a memorial, an outright gift or trust.

Our senior citizen volunteers work hard to help keep the Nutrition Center operating. We have a newsletter which is published monthly. It is self-supporting as members sold ads in the newsletter to meet the costs.

On the April 2 ballot is the following question:

"Shall Cape Girardeau County levy a tax of 5 cents per each one hundred dollars assessed valuation on all taxable property for the purpose of providing services to persons 60 years of age or older?"

We feel that passage of the issue would benefit every voter senior citizens at this time and younger voters through benefits to their parents, grandparents and themselves when they become senior citizens.

Any organization or agency providing services to the elderly could apply for part of the funds. Money the Cape Nutrition Center might get from this tax, if passed, would probably be used to deliver meals to more shut-ins, both by meeting costs of the meals and by isuring more transportaion for their deliveries.

Russell Faust, President

Cape Girardeau

Council on Aging