The Spur Senior Citizens Center, at 210 South Burlington Avenue in Spur, is a stalwart with the city’s over-60 crowd.
Featuring a comfortable living-room seating area, a community meeting room, a puzzle and entertainment nook, offices, and even pool tables and a piano in addition to its dining room and commercial kitchen, the former grocery store has seen many patrons come and go over the decades. It’s a valuable service, providing nutritious and delicious lunches on-site five days a week, plus seeing to the needs of nearly 30 home-bound residents with a no-cost meal delivery service.
But its crowds are dwindling, say leaders of its parent nonprofit organization, and so also is its financial support. More friends and funds are needed.
The official name “Senior Citizens Association of South Dickens, County— Spur, Texas, Incorporated” was a mouthful even back in April 1977 when it was organized in the State of Texas as a nonprofit.
The visionaries who formed the original board were founders Wilburn Ball, Leo Day, Inez Karr and O. A. Vaughn. Board members at the time were Pat Carlisle (secretary), R. C. Green (vice president), Joe Harrison (president), Travis Hoover, Beverly Watson, Louise Wright and Vernon Wright.
Many community members served on the board over the years; a partial list includes Boyce Rankin, Lee Kidd, Nan Kidd, Minnie Bethany, Danny Drum, Randall Gilcrease, Gene Roberson, Ronnie White, Judy Clay, Deanie Wellborn, Alton Williams, Pat Reynolds and Lewis Lawler, Wallace Day, Ted Smith, Thelma Thomas and Louise Wright.
The most current leadership roster shows Lee Kidd as president, Gene Roberson as vice president, Nan Kidd as secretary, and members Pat Reynolds, Deanie Wellborn, Alton Williams and the late Ronnie White.
from a bit of name confusion; the facility that houses it is the Spur Senior Center of South Dickens County, since there is a similar center in the county seat of Dickens, farther north. But most folks just call it the Senior Center, and those who regularly use it for meals, gatherings, bridge games, Chamber meetings, and even special entertainment nights for karaoke or community presentations truly appreciate its benefits. (The center is also available for rental for a nominal fee.)
Although partly funded by the South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) with a 75% meal subsidy, the local center must generate the rest and cover all of the expenses that any business would have, such as personnel, utilities, insurance, repairs and maintenance, taxes and supplies.
This past year, the organization was fortunate to have a new roof installed following back-to-back storm damage. Volunteers helped refurbish and refurnish the interior.
For lunch, the cost of $11 per plate—cooked and served at brightly decorated tables—is reduced to $4 for those 60 and over thanks to the SPAG
subsidy.
Other guests pay $8.
Private donations, along with four fundraising events each year, supplement the operating budget year-round. Memorial gifts are always welcome.
The Center’s biggest serving day of the year is
the Friday of Spur Homecoming weekend. This Friday, the friendly folks of the Spur Senior Center will be waiting to greet and serve you. Come on by and bring others!
And if you’d like to work in a volunteer capacity— to serve those who have so generously served you—give the staff a call at (806) 271-4472 or email sscaosdc@caprock-spur. com.
