About Us

$50 And A Dream

Impossible dreams can become real with determination, hard work and faith in God! Glenn Phillips, $50 and a Dream

Glenn Phillips is our founding member along with Denzel Nonhof, and the late Richard Niermann, Charles Garrison and Ralph Carr. Glenn wrote a book about the experience available at the center for $10.

Mission Statement

To provide seniors with residential opportunities, to sustain a permanent Senior Center, to be an advocate for seniors, to provide resources and to assist seniors in developing skills to remain self-sufficient.

Five community-minded individuals each contributed $10 to get the ball rolling to establish the Central Crossing Senior Center back in 1998. Mr. Glenn Phillips kept that ball rolling; establishing the SKSI in January 1999, and opened the doors to the temporary center in November 2000. He and his troops (it took a small army of volunteers) opened the doors on the permanent center in 2003.

The Central Crossing Senior Center is owned and operated by Shell Knob Seniors, Inc. a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation dedicated to the senior population of the Shell Knob area.

Acquiring the funds to continue the dream is the responsibility of a 15-member volunteer board of an umbrella organization called Shell Knob Senior’s Inc. The funds to operate the SKSI complex come from many sources; from a small donation for the daily salad bar, a medium sized donation to defray operating costs or a large donation for a special project – each one is important and each one is appreciated.

All who benefit directly or indirectly from these facilities are encouraged to help with financial support. Local businesses are encouraged to become a “Business Partner” to share in our mission. Bequests are a great way of providing ongoing support for the senior community. This can be done through estate planning.

Besides financial donations, donations of labor are also needed; volunteers are the life blood of Central Crossing Senior Center. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering – all talents are welcome and appreciated.

Our Volunteer Leaders

Everyone at the Central Crossing Senior Center is a volunteer from the CEO down. Senior Age Area Agency on Aging leases the center from 6am to 4pm Monday through Friday providing a Director, and Kitchen Staff to provide a nutricious and delicious lunch at an affordable price.

Front row: L to R: Gay Hawkins, Betha Pavelka, Cathy Lank, Maggie Pelzl, Regina McIlrath and Sharon Brown. Back Row: Roger Martz, Doug Stroemel, Melanie Ashby, Howard Slawson, Sam Herkelman, and Wayne Johnstone. Absent: Jeff Harp and Scott Fitzpatrick.

Our Volunteer Board of Directors

Sam Herkelman – CEO

Regina McIlrath – COO

Cathy Lank – CFO

Margaret Pelzl – Secretary, Pres., EP Committee

Doug Stroemel – CPO

Directors

Roger Martz, Jeff Harp, Sharon Brown,

Scott Fitzpatrick, Betha Pavelka, Melanie Ashby, Gay Hawkins, Wayne Johnstone and Howard Trimble.

Glenn Phillips, Ex officio

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are always needed and appreciated so if you have an hour or two to give us, please call 417-858-6952 or come in to the Center during our regular hours and find something you will love doing for yourself and for your community.