The California Nutrition Center received an unexpected early Christmas present.
The anonymous donor who pledged to match donations up to $15,000 thru Dec. 15 recently updated his pledge to match up to $25,000 thru Dec. 31. The new goal could raise $50,000 for the nonprofit that provides meals and assistance for local seniors.
Kim Drummond, lead center administrator, said the center has so far raised $16,445 before matches. She said "Thomasina the Turkey," portrayed by Darlene Meador, helped raise $400 while greeting patrons Nov. 17 during the center's annual Thanksgiving meal.
Tim Forck, center treasurer, said increasing prices have put even more pressure on the campaign. He said the center paid more for food in the past fiscal year due to the center's budget with Aging Best being exhausted sooner.
"We have not had to pay for food to that extent. ... We're talking in the area of $5,000 to $6,000 a month for food," Forck said. "When we're talking about raw food costing about that amount of money, it worries me. It worries me because you've got to have significant fundraisers then."
Forck said he's thankful for the support the center has received.
"I would like to thank everybody that has donated," he said. "It has really shown that the community is behind the center. It is amazing to see this, this outpour of resources that they have, especially in these tough times."
Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the center: California Nutrition Center, 107 W. Versailles Ave., California. The center can be contacted at 573-796-4240 between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.