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Sikeston OAKS Center celebrates 50 years
SIKESTON — Marking a golden milestone, the Sikeston OAKS Nutrition Center celebrated the remarkable journey of 50 years of meals and services.
On Friday, Dec. 1, many senior citizens gathered at the center and celebrated with food, cake, prizes, bingo and a highlight of the program’s evolution into what it is now.
According to Lisa Hicks, administrator of the Sikeston OAKS Center, the first senior centers in Southeast Missouri were created in 1973 and have survived for almost 50 years to serve millions of meals and supportive activities to area seniors.
To help celebrate the 50th anniversary, the Sikeston center also had Lana Johnson, executive director of Aging Matters, speak at the celebration.
“She has been with the agency for 50 years, so she is celebrating her 50 years as well,” Hicks said.
Johnson has been serving senior citizens with the organization ever since she began working there, according to Hicks. The Chaffee center was the first facility in Southeast Missouri.
Over time, Johnson said, the number of OAKS senior centers in Southeast Missouri has increased from 13 to 33.
“We have built this program to be what it is today, and it is a very large program compared to anywhere in the state of Missouri,” Johnson said.
According to Hicks, the Sikeston OAKS Nutrition Center first opened on Dec. 3, 1973, and in 1976, the Sikeston center offered around 175 meals each day, or 45,000 yearly, at a cost of $1.41 per meal.
Hicks went on to explain how the center has genuinely evolved throughout the years.
“As of FY2023, the Sikeston Center served an average of 242 meals per day, 60,147 meals per year, at a cost of $6.17 per meal,” Hicks said.
The Sikeston OAKS Nutrition Center provides home delivery meals to residents in Sikeston, Morehouse and Miner, as well as additional programs and activities for senior citizens ages 60 and up.
“Most centers operate on limited budgets,” said Rhonda Bramlett, Aging Matters nutrition project director. “The only time the center can manage to purchase new equipment is if they are forced to because of a breakdown.”
According to Bramlett, while the centers receive little federal and state funding, all programs must fund-raise, apply for grants and rely on contributions to fulfill their ever-increasing budgets.
Hicks said the Sikeston OAKS Center attracts amazing people and that it feels like a family.
“We hope all senior centers continue to grow and strive to offer a variety of programs to meet the interests of multiple generations for many years to come,” Hicks said.