King's Daughters Holiday Festival

November 15-16, 2008

Missions

The King's Daughters Holiday Festival raises funds to support our Dental Aid Program and the King's Daughters Retirement Home in Mexico, MO. The organization raises money through ticket sales and booth registration fees. Individual donations are accepted: checks made payable to "King's Daughters" may be mailed to P. O. Box 30832, Columbia, MO 65205-3832.

Dental Aid

What is the King's Daughters Dental Aid Program?

The King's Daughter Dental Aid program is designed to provide dental care to needy children from the Columbia Public Schools through cooperation of the International Order of the King's Daughters of Columbia, Missouri, Columbia Public School officials and dentist from the Columbia Dental Society.

How did the program begin?

In 1974, the Dorothy McArthur Circle discussed ways to serve others in our community and fill an ongoing need. After much research, the idea of a program to deal with dental problems in children was met with much enthusiasm. On May 1, 1975, the first fundraiser was held which raised $1,700 for the program to begin. Since then the program has grown, averaging over 100 students per year. Once the child is in the program, they receive yearly preventive check-ups and treatment.

How are students selected?

Referrals are made by a Columbia Public School nurse for a student who needs dental care and has no financial resources.

How does the program work?

The program is funded by donations from individuals, King's Daughters Circles, and from annual fundraising activities of Columbia King's Daughters City Union.

Who are the dentists involved?

This is the most recent list of dentists who support our program through free or reduced-rate dental care: Adam Andrews, Clark Arthur, Ben Batson, Richard Bohon, Robert Coyle , Thomas Coyle, Fred Christman, Robert Dye, Jim Elliott, Bryan Foote, Ken Fuchs, Mary Gadbois, Tony Gadbois, John Gardner, George Gibbs, Lanny Hamilton, Drew Hamilton, Charles Hatley, Wayne Hawks, Lori Henderson, Nelson Henry, John Johnson, Warren Lawson, Brian Link, Shelly Lyle, Roy Manning, Rebecca Mathis, Charles Mattingly, Nicholas McNutt, Brad Miller, Lynn Miller, Michael Minten, Gunilla Murphy, Sally Powell, Neil Riley, Webb Rooney, Brett Russell, Kevin Ryan, Todd Scott, Ramsey Shouman, Dan Shapira, Greg Stevens, Kevan Whitsitt and Kent Willett.

How do the members of King's Daughters support the program?

Members of the Columbia King's Daughters work together by volunteering to drive the student to the dentist, by donating money to the Dental Aid Fund, and by contributing to the success of the Columbia City Union annual Holiday Festival.

King's Daughters Home

In January, 1880, the King's Daughters organization was founded in New York City. Within three years, small groups called "circles" were organized, extending as far west as Missouri. One to those early circles was the What-So-Ever Circle in Mexico, which was organized in September, 1888. Two women of this circle proposed the idea of a home for aged women who had no one to care for them.

In January, 1898 the Home was incorporated, a lot was purchased, and in 1903 a contract for the construction of the building was set at a cost of $6,500. The Home was formally dedicated in November, 1905. A matron, a nurse and a cook were employed to care for ten ladies who came to the Home as residents for an entrance fee of $125, bringing their own furnishing and personal possessions.

Since opening, numerous major renovations and changes have been made to accommodate more residents and to satisfy city and state regulations for such homes. At present, the Home is licensed for 45 female residents under two levels of care: Intermediate Care and Resident Care II.

The Home has always been a private pay facility - accepting no state or federal funding. The Home continues to be maintained through contributions from King's Daughters Circles of Missouri, private donations, Endowment Fund earnings and resident fees.

The Home has been operated by a Home Board of Directors. The Home Board of directors consists of 8 members. Two members are from each of the four City Unions/ Councils in the Missouri Brand - Columbia, Eastern District (Hannibal/Palmyra), Kansas City and Mexico.

The Home's entrance requirements are now the same as the Missouri State Division of Aging criteria. As has always been the case, anyone entering the Home can stay until death. We believe the King's Daughters Home is the longest, singly-owned and operated home in the state of Missouri.