Senior Center celebrates fundraising victory for new walk-in freezer, refrigerator
The Cassville Senior Center staff and patrons alike are celebrating exceeding their fundraising goal for the new walk-in freezer and refrigerator being installed this week. The center had a goal of $19,000 and ended up with a final fundraising total of $25,276 thanks to local business and individuals' donations. Pictured above, left to right, are Kristina Atwood, Cassville Senior Center administrator, and Bob Ware, Cassville Senior Center board president.
August 7, 2019
Charlea Estes-Jones
Thanks to support from the community, the Cassville Senior Center will continue, business as usual, with a new walk-in freezer and walk-in refrigerator installed this week. Not only did area businesses and private individuals fund the replacement, the center received over $6,000 more than they hoped for.
Cassville Senior Center administrator Kristina Atwood said, "We are so grateful. We were really hoping we would raise all of the money, but we weren't expecting to raise it all so fast. We are so grateful to everyone in the community that donated."
The center started fundraising efforts earlier this year in April when staff realized the existing units were not going to be functional much longer. At that time, Atwood said the walk-in freezer and cooler were the originals put in when the center moved to its current location on Fair Street in 1998.
Atwood said the center began having problems with the existing units in 2018 and started repairs. When it became obvious that repairs were no longer going to keep the units operational, Atwood sent letters to area businesses seeking financial support.
The new units cost the center about $38,000. As a non-profit, the center receives funding for building maintenance from local taxes and supplemental support for the food program from SeniorAge, based in Springfield. However, those funds do not cover major expenses. Donations were essential in getting new units, and the center was seeking $19,000 from the community to help pay for them.
Altogether, the community donated $25,276 to help cover the cost of the new refrigerator and freezer. Donations were made by area businesses as well as by private donors.
Atwood said the company installing the new units began dismantling the old walk-ins on Monday. Initially, they hoped to have the project completed by Friday, however there are a few delays. Atwood said they don't have a definitive date for when the project will be complete.
Thankfully, Springfield Grocer loaned a refrigerated truck to the center as a donation to keep them in operation until the project is complete.
Atwood explained how vital the walk-ins are to the operation of the center and how they help area seniors. She said, "It's extremely important to us to have a freezer and cooler. The freezer especially. All of the home delivery meals that we send out are frozen. So we need the freezer to be able to send those out. We couldn't even cook without having the freezer and cooler operational."
The Cassville Senior Center is located at 1111 Fair Street in Cassville. The center provides over 40,000 meals to area seniors annually through meals served on site and the Meals on Wheels program. They serve the Cassville, Exeter, Jenkins, Wheaton, Ridgeley, Butterfield, Washburn and Seligman areas.
Atwood added, "What we are doing is helping keep our seniors in their homes longer and even a small donation helps us do that. Every little bit helps. We can't serve meals if we don't have a place to store our food. It's definitely a need for the community."
Meals served at the center go from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The center also offers classes, events and educational opportunities for area seniors.
Business donors for the Cassville Senior Centers walk-in freezer and refrigerator were: The Cassville chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Fasco, Michael Riehn Law Office, Fohn's Funeral Home, Les Jacobs Ford, Westco, Freedom Bank, Spears Dental, Fastrip, Security Bank, 1st State Bank and Barry Electric.
For more information about the center, contact (417) 847-4510 or email kristina.atwood@senioragemo.org.
Charlea Estes-Jones
Thanks to support from the community, the Cassville Senior Center will continue, business as usual, with a new walk-in freezer and walk-in refrigerator installed this week. Not only did area businesses and private individuals fund the replacement, the center received over $6,000 more than they hoped for.
Cassville Senior Center administrator Kristina Atwood said, "We are so grateful. We were really hoping we would raise all of the money, but we weren't expecting to raise it all so fast. We are so grateful to everyone in the community that donated."
The center started fundraising efforts earlier this year in April when staff realized the existing units were not going to be functional much longer. At that time, Atwood said the walk-in freezer and cooler were the originals put in when the center moved to its current location on Fair Street in 1998.
Atwood said the center began having problems with the existing units in 2018 and started repairs. When it became obvious that repairs were no longer going to keep the units operational, Atwood sent letters to area businesses seeking financial support.
The new units cost the center about $38,000. As a non-profit, the center receives funding for building maintenance from local taxes and supplemental support for the food program from SeniorAge, based in Springfield. However, those funds do not cover major expenses. Donations were essential in getting new units, and the center was seeking $19,000 from the community to help pay for them.
Altogether, the community donated $25,276 to help cover the cost of the new refrigerator and freezer. Donations were made by area businesses as well as by private donors.
Atwood said the company installing the new units began dismantling the old walk-ins on Monday. Initially, they hoped to have the project completed by Friday, however there are a few delays. Atwood said they don't have a definitive date for when the project will be complete.
Thankfully, Springfield Grocer loaned a refrigerated truck to the center as a donation to keep them in operation until the project is complete.
Atwood explained how vital the walk-ins are to the operation of the center and how they help area seniors. She said, "It's extremely important to us to have a freezer and cooler. The freezer especially. All of the home delivery meals that we send out are frozen. So we need the freezer to be able to send those out. We couldn't even cook without having the freezer and cooler operational."
The Cassville Senior Center is located at 1111 Fair Street in Cassville. The center provides over 40,000 meals to area seniors annually through meals served on site and the Meals on Wheels program. They serve the Cassville, Exeter, Jenkins, Wheaton, Ridgeley, Butterfield, Washburn and Seligman areas.
Atwood added, "What we are doing is helping keep our seniors in their homes longer and even a small donation helps us do that. Every little bit helps. We can't serve meals if we don't have a place to store our food. It's definitely a need for the community."
Meals served at the center go from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The center also offers classes, events and educational opportunities for area seniors.
Business donors for the Cassville Senior Centers walk-in freezer and refrigerator were: The Cassville chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Fasco, Michael Riehn Law Office, Fohn's Funeral Home, Les Jacobs Ford, Westco, Freedom Bank, Spears Dental, Fastrip, Security Bank, 1st State Bank and Barry Electric.
For more information about the center, contact (417) 847-4510 or email kristina.atwood@senioragemo.org.