As of March 14, the California Nutrition Center reached a milestone - 25 years of service to the community at its present location.
An open house and anniversary reception will be held from 1-3 p.m. March 27 to commemorate the first 25 years in the same location. The community is invited to the special event, which will be held at the Nutrition Center, at 107 W. Versailles Ave.
The California Nutrition Center serves a noon-time meal from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition, the center provides a variety of social, educational, health education and recreational activities for seniors, aged 60 and older.
The meals and the activities help to enable older persons to live in their own homes as long as possible. Meals are also delivered to those who are homebound and unable to come to the center.
The cost is $4 per meal for those 60 or over and $6.50 for those younger than 60.
Cook Teressa Liebi follows the guidelines on the food cooked, with no fried foods served and no salt used. The menu offers healthy choice meals and recommended portion control for maximum health.There are also sugar-free desserts available.
On a recent visit to speak to some of the regulars, nearly everyone present spoke of appreciating the center for the food and fellowship and were pleased that it was open to everyone. One mentioned liking the fact that the center has a good dance floor, and the fact that there is often a band.
Those who enjoy playing cards appreciate the availability of card partners. There are other activities, including bingo, putting together puzzles, exercises from 9:30-10 a.m, and an area for resale of donated goods.
The California Nutrition Center is a non-profit organization and Kim Drummond is the administrator.
The center depends on the generosity of those willing to contribute monetary support, and those who give hundreds of hours of volunteer work each month to operate the center. It is in part sponsored by Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging. The city also contributes $5,000 per year.
The idea began at some point in the mid-1970s in Tipton, when hot meals were delivered from local restaurants to those who were homebound. In 1977, the Moniteau County Nutrition Center was formed. On Nov. 14, 1977, the first meals were served from the newly-opened nutrition center in the American Legion Hall in Tipton.
In 1981, meals began to be transported from the Tipton center to the California Eagles Club to be served to the senior citizens in the California area. Nearly 10 years later, the serving center was moved to the American Legion Hall, which was in the former Buchanan house at the corner of East and Third streets. With no room for growth, an effort was made to find a larger building in California.
One was found, the old IGA store, and with a lot of work by Beryl White, president of the Moniteau County Nutrition Center, and local businessman Buddy Bolinger, arrangements were made to buy the vacant building at 107 W. Versailles Ave. for $175,000. Another $100,000 was needed for remodeling the building to prepare it for the senior meals program.
After four months of remodeling work done by volunteers, an open house attended by 700 people was held March 14, 1993. The California and Tipton nutrition centers are now separate entities.