Our History

The Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) made great strides in taking care of seniors. The OAA aims to ensure that older adults can live independently and with dignity in their homes and communities. It provides a range of services to help them maintain their health, well-being, and social connections. It's key components include:

  • National Network: The OAA created a network of federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, known as the "Aging Network," to plan and deliver services. 
  • Title III Programs: This title focuses on grants to states and communities for supportive services, including nutrition programs (like congregate and home-delivered meals), in-home care, transportation, and caregiver support. 
  • Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP): This program provides part-time community service employment opportunities for low-income individuals aged 55 and older. 
  • Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs): AAAs play a crucial role in assessing local needs, planning services, and coordinating the delivery of OAA programs within their designated areas.

In 1968, Mrs. Elizabeth Munday became the director of Daviess County Senior Services and began offering many services for seniors in our community. She hosted events, activities, and took them on trips. As Mrs. Munday was approaching her retirement, she became an advocate for the community to have a senior center. She had served well from 1968-1982.

In 1983, Mrs. Munday's dream became a reality when the Elizabeth Munday Senior Center was opened in the former Robert E. Lee school building. It's first director was Mrs. Robyn Mattingly, a position she held for twenty-four years (1983-2007). Mrs. Mattingly built much of the programming and structure we enjoy today.

Upon her leaving, Mr. Tom Vittitow became the director serving faithfully from 2007-2014. Under Tom's leadership, the name of the organization was changed to the Munday Activity Center combining Daviess County Senior Services and the Elizabeth Munday Senior Center into one entity.

Mrs. Dana Peveler then became our director serving from 2015-2020. Under her leadership, in 2018, another name change took place establishing the Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County embracing the entire community and rebranding the organization.

In 2020, the efforts to build a new senior center increased. Ms. Becky Barnhart was hired as the next director serving from 2020-2024. Ms. Barnhart continued to strengthen the internal structure of the organization, improve the financial condition, and search for a new location for the Senior Community Center. In the Spring of 2024, it was announced that the City of Owensboro had purchased an 8-acre property next door to the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden located at 3001 W. Second Street as a new home for the organization.

In late 2024, Dr. David Tucker was named the next executive director of the Senior Community Center. In the spring of 2025, announcements were made about expanding the hours of operation and programming. In April 2025, a press conference was held to announce that Hayden Construction had been hired to construct the new facility and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 18, 2025.

We are excited for our future and the generations of seniors we will serve.