Madison County Senior Center Still Hanging on With Help from Concerned Citizens
Teri Moss
The Madison County Senior Center at 107 Spruce St.
The Madison County Senior Center has been operating at a deficit for several months and was slated to close on Oct. 31, 2025. Because of the generosity of Phil and Mary Page, joined by eight business owners in Madison County, the center has been able to remain open, and it is hoped that they can stay open through the end of June at least.
Six concerned citizens of Madison County have been working with the center. They stepped up and asked, “How can we help?” They have been pooling their resources and contacts to develop a solution to help the center stay open. They are helping the administration with providing contacts, communication with the food bank, and gathering and maintaining donations. This group was organized by the Pages and comprises Mindi Montgomery, Sarah Page, Paul Hale, Jr., Todd Kline, Chris Reagan, and Shanna Sorg.
These citizens began by engaging a third-party CPA firm to review the books for the past three years. The exam confirmed that no material issues were found.
“There is simply not enough money coming in to cover costs,” said board member Mindi Montgomery.
Each meal costs $9.32. The center’s reimbursement from the government is around $6.00 per meal for Medicaid recipients. Those who aren’t on Medicaid are asked to pay a $6 or $7 donation per meal, depending on their age. However, some don’t pay. Roughly 50% of the meals served are to Medicaid-eligible recipients. Approximately 32,000 meals were served in 2025.
A flier from the committee to save the Senior Center
Aside from the cost of the meals, the center has five paid staff members and some administrative costs to cover. Since this is a non-profit organization, paying the minimum wage is not required, so most employees earn less than the minimum wage. The center relies heavily on volunteers for help.
For some Seniors in Madison County, receiving Meals on Wheels is the only wellness check they receive. Some have no family to visit them, and they depend on these meals. For others, it is a daily opportunity to socialize with other seniors, all while enjoying a nutritious meal. Some seniors living alone don’t always prepare nutritious meals for themselves at home.
“If you have never volunteered for Meals on Wheels, I highly recommend that you do so,” said Montgomery. “It will change your life.”
“The big problem with the government funding that the center receives is that it just keeps getting cut and cut,” Montgomery said. “Representatives Dale Wright and Tony Harbison are aware of the situation, and they are working on potential solutions. One possibility is reviewing the criteria for allocation of funds; currently, this is based on population and can hinder the smaller communities.”
The Senior Center holds two or three fundraising events each week. The Thrift Shop within the center is another source of revenue for them. However, these events don’t generate enough funds to keep the doors open long-term.
The committee is reaching out to all available sources for help. Recently, they met with the St Francois County Senior Center and received some very helpful information and resources. They continue to make inquiries and reach out to those willing to share success stories. “The loss of funding is a problem that is affecting all senior communities, not just ours,” said Montgomery.
The concerned citizens have been actively working with the board of the Madison County Senior Citizens Council on Aging, which is the legal name for the Madison County Senior Center. The board members are Kathy Edwards, Don Peck, Elaine Schwent, Debbie Gipson, Tina Ingram, Cathy Ballew, Mindi Montgomery, Sarah Page, Paul Hale, Jr., and Shanna Sorg. The last four members are part of the concerned citizens who have been officially added to the board.
The concerned citizens group has a 501 (c) (3) set up for the donations being provided, and it is tax-deductible to the donor. This money is kept separate from the Senior Center’s funds and is used only when there is a specific need and to cover the operating deficit. The group wants to be good stewards of donors’ money and keep the two sources separate, as the donations aren’t part of the Senior Center’s regular funding.
The group has been approved to place a tax initiative on the April ballot to help fund all senior services in Madison County. This is a real estate and personal property tax, and it will be very minimal: five cents on every $100 of assessed value. One hundred percent of the funds will be used in Madison County. If this passes, it will have a significant impact on the Senior Center’s budget. Madison County is one of the few counties that are not already doing this.
There are also fundraising plans being tossed around. The hope is to hold one major fundraising event each year to help cover the center’s costs. Seniors have much wisdom to share with the younger generation, as well as valuable life experiences.
By definition, a senior can be anyone aged 55 and upward. Seniors have much wisdom to share with the younger generation as well as valuable experiences they have gone through in their life. With a little support from the Senior Center, Madison County seniors can remain at home and lead valuable lives on their own. The Senior Center is needed as a place to recharge and connect with one another.
