Visitors encouraged at Moniteau Care

<p>Democrat photo/Michelle Brooks</p><p>Dennis Norvell, a resident at Moniteau Care Center, was visited by his mother, Kaye Dowell, Versailles, and aunt Peggy Simmers, Clarksburg, during the center’s Community Pancake Breakfast Sept. 7.</p>

Democrat photo/Michelle Brooks

Dennis Norvell, a resident at Moniteau Care Center, was visited by his mother, Kaye Dowell, Versailles, and aunt Peggy Simmers, Clarksburg, during the center’s Community Pancake Breakfast Sept. 7.

Pancakes topped with strawberries or syrup were being served up the morning of Sept. 7 at the Moniteau Care Center dining room to visitors.

Inviting visitors in to a pancake breakfast fundraiser - something activities director Gina Baker would like to continue monthly - has a two-fold benefit.

First, the approximatley 40 residents enjoy seeing fresh faces from the community.

"We want to get the community more involved," she said.

Churches take turns visiting on Sundays and musicians occasionally will stop in.

But, Baker would like to see more visitors more often, she said.

Second, donations support the center's acitivities fund, which Baker uses for programs on-site and for outings to area attractions.

A monthly trivia night fundraiser is also in the works.

Since taking on the role of activities director two months ago, Baker has taken some of the residents to the Nik Nak Cafe and to the Museum of Missouri Military History, Jefferson City. In the future, she would like to take residents to the Capitol and to Runge Nature Center, both in Jefferson City.

"We want to be able to do as much as we can," Baker said of the increased fundraising. "We just want them to keep enjoying life."