Charleston Nutrition Center

Our Mission:

To provide a place where the active seniors of our community can socialize and receive a well-balanced nutritional meal. As well as provide nutritional services to the homebound disabled and seniors of the community and the surrounding communities with five (5) routes in the city of Charleston and for the towns of Bertrand, Wyatt/Wilson City in Mississippi County, Missouri.

What We Do:
•Our cooks prepare approximately 200 meals each day.
•Our volunteers and staff deliver up to 160 of those meals each day.
•We find solutions to problems and answers to questions. If we don't know...we'll find someone who does.
•We provide informational programs and clinics for the public.
•We try to find activities that will challenge the mind and body of seniors.
•We give seniors a comforable place to socialize.
•We do our best to meet the needs of our clients and guests.
•We care.

How We Do It:
*Volunteers - Besides our staff, our volunteers are our greatest asset by far. They are "how we do it"! Sixty percent of our home delivered meals are delivered by volunteers. Our reception window is manned by volunteers. Our library is organized and operated by volunteers. The baby quilts that are handmade and sold for fundraising are created and sewn by volunteers. Our landscaping needs are fulfilled by volunteers. Our computer classes are taught by volunteers. As you can see, we need, respect, and appreciate our volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Sheila Babb at (573) 683-6115 for more information or stop in and ask how you can help.

*Funding - Since we are a non-profit organization, we depend on several different resources:

* Our No. 1 source for funding, information, and encouragement is the Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging. They keep us on track with all the rules and regulations necessary to receive funding from the State. The Dietitian makes sure we are delivering a healthy, balanced meal that meets the State requirements. Besides these services, they also have employees that specialize in Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and numerous programs of interest to Seniors.

* Mississippi County Sales Tax - In 1996, voters in Mississippi County approved a 1/4 cent sales tax to be used for the Senior Services in our County. Those that benefit are The Charleston Nutrition Center, The East Prairie Senior Center, The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and The Mississippi County Transit System.

* Fundraisers, Donations and Memorial Gifts - Just like other non-profit organizations, a great deal of our extra curricular activities are funded from donations, gifts, and support from our various fundraising activities. Most people donate to our Center because we have touched their life, or someone close to them, and they want to make sure we continue the giving. We have great support for our fundraising events, like our holiday dinners and homemade pie sales.

* Grants - Our Center recently became the recipient of two grants. These grants allow us to purchase larger items that might otherwise take years to obtain. Grants come in different sizes, but most are obtained in the same way...you must apply. Although grant writing can take a lot of time and needs some experience, this type of funding can be the financial boost that a non-profit needs to survive.