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Sikeston OAKS will host trivia night fundraiser to offset food costs
SIKESTON — These days, times are tough for 501(c) (3) organizations. And the inflation spikes the past few years have impeded certain operational standards and abilities.
Unfortunately, the Sikeston OAKS Nutrition Center has felt this drastic shift, so a trivia fundraiser night is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, with registration commencing at 5:30 p.m. at 305 Cresap.
A chili supper will be available before the games begin, and all proceeds benefit OAKS and the Home-Delivered Meal Program.
In the latest fiscal year, 55,970 meals were served, and this year, the annual budget was slashed by $27,000. Hence the need for fundraising campaigns, such as trivia events and garage sales.
“The funds are used to provide food for those who are 60 and older who qualify,” said Sikeston OAKS Administrator Lisa Hicks. “They are welcome to come and eat in our dining room. Our home-delivered program; you have to qualify for that. We deliver to Sikeston, Miner and Morehouse.”
OAKS serves as an outlet for the area — especially the senior citizen community.
“It is very pivotal,” said Hicks. “There are a lot of folks who receive the home-delivered meals, and it may be the only food they are getting. We have a lot of food-insecure people, especially seniors. Getting the meals to them, some of them don’t have transportation, which is another huge problem in our community.”
A suggested $4-donation is asked for meals which are served from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays.
“If unable to pay that, it does not exclude you from a meal,” said Hicks. “
“That is why we have to fundraise. We are a 501(c) (3). We do get a little bit from the government,” said Hicks. “We get $3.01 from the federal government for 11% of the people we serve. It is based on the Census. That is what all senior centers are in Missouri. We are not run by the government. We all get a small subsidy.”
The new fiscal year began on July 1 with a reduced budget.
“My goal is to raise $24,000 dollars this year,” Hicks said. “Our budget was cut $27,000, and we typically have been running about $12,000 in the hole each year, so that is quite a bit of difference.
She continued: “We get small amounts from different organizations and clubs, but we don’t have any large benefactors. I do not have any large events.”
Trivia nights and various garage sales help generate added funds to the organization, and a future endeavor with the local Sikeston/Bootheel Area United Way will be around the bend.
“Next spring, we (Sikeston OAKS and United Way) may try and do a trivia together so we can get more people and make it a bigger event since both organizations are trying to get people in and be a bigger draw,” said Hicks.
Call Hicks at 573-471-6047 or email her at Oakssikeston@yahoo.com to sign up for Saturday’s trivia night fundraiser.