×

HOLIDAY SURPRISE

FD philanthropy donates $10k to Adult Day program

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Rep. Ann Meyer visited the Golden Day Adult Day program's Halloween party to share some good news -- the Fort Dodge organization 100 Women Who Care is donating $10,000 to the program.

Christmas came early on Monday at the Golden Day Adult Day program’s Halloween Party at Citizens Central.

Surrounded by spooky decorations of spiders and ghosts and witches, state Rep. Ann Meyer, a member of the 100 Women Who Care group, announced that the organization had chosen Golden Day as the recipient of its fall donation — totaling more than $10,000.

“There’s at least 100 of us in town (in the group) and each of us donates $100 to a charity that is presented and picked,” Meyer, a Republican from Fort Dodge, explained. “And the week before last, Golden Day was picked, so it’s at least $10,000.”

Golden Day’s mission is to provide safe and caring adult services that will offer meaningful programs to enhance the dignity, independence and quality of life of older persons and individuals with disabilities. The program is run entirely by volunteers and is currently held at Citizens Central on alternating Mondays.

The Golden Day program was started earlier this year. Previously, Friendship Haven hosted the Schmoker Adult Day Services, but that program closed its doors in early 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Josh Eger, holding a Chucky doll, and Danielle Jessen, dressed as Sophia from "The Golden Girls," share a moment at the Golden Day Adult Day program's Halloween party at Citizens Central on Monday afternoon.

The lead volunteers of the Golden Day program would like to see the program expand to full-time, but they have some hurdles to overcome first.

The 100 Women Who Care donation is “huge” for Golden Day to take the next steps to become full-time, Beth Plautz, one of those volunteers, said.

“We have to be licensed with the Department of Inspections and Appeals, and then we’ll have to start hiring staff,” she said. “We have to get insurance.”

Golden Day Adult Day meets every other Monday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Citizens Central, 617 Central Ave. To attend, RSVP through the Facebook group “Golden Day Adult Day” or call 515-571-1423.

Charitable donations can be sent to Golden Day Adult Day at the Fort Dodge Community Foundation, 24 N. Ninth St., Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Vanessa Johnson payed homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II during Golden Day Adult Day's Halloween party on Monday afternoon.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Disney Princess Morgan Cox and Baby Sara Hill had fun at Golden Day Adult Day's Halloween Party on Monday afternoon at Citizens Central.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today