The funds are coming from the Missouri Foundation for Health

By ANN PIERCEALL

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

MONROE CITY, Mo. -- The Monroe City Senior Nutrition Center will receive a $96,600 grant over two years from the Missouri Foundation for Health, and it couldn't come at a better time.

"We're at point now where the costs for our food supply and fuel have gone up, and fundraising and contributions are down a little bit because (supporters) are feeling the crunch at home," said Diana Hendrix, the center's executive director.

Expenses for the last fiscal year were up 9.5 percent to $540,000 and funding had been reduced by 8.5 percent to $527,334, including a $30,000 decrease in Medicaid funding.

Hendrix said the center also has experienced a series of unexpected expenses, including two broken air conditioning units, a collapsed ceiling, and flooring, walls and plumbing in the kitchen that needed to be replaced. The parking lot was also redone.

"This year I was looking for all grants I could find," she said.

The center serves or delivers more than 90,000 meals a year to more than 1,500 people in Monroe City, Perry, Palmyra, Philadelphia, Center, Rensselaer and the rural areas in between.

Hendrix said the money will buy needed equipment like new refrigerators at Palmyra and Monroe City, and possibly a new roof at Monroe City, which she said has "about had it with all the storms."

There might also be enough left for raises to the center's staff.

"That's something we'll look into ... trying to take care of the people who are so good to us," she said.

Hendrix had heard about the foundation's Basic Support Grant, which helps offset operating and equipment costs and allows groups to maintain existing programs for the uninsured, underinsured and underserved. She said she was pleased to learn MFH was looking for grant-making opportunities in more rural areas.

The Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) was formed in 2000. It focuses on bridging gaps in health care services for Missouri residents. MFH's assets are about $1.3 billion, and it awards about $60 million in grants each year. Since 2002 MFH has awarded more than $270 million.

-- apierceall@whig.com/(573) 221-5879