This year’s annual Dinner Date Christmas Dinner at Jay’s Restaurant was a time to say “thank you.” The Jaycox family, and specifically Marion “Jay” Jaycox stepped up to the plate 36 years ago to save the Dinner Date program in Sanborn. His son Terry Jaycox has carried on the legacy of support and was recognized at this year’s noontime Christmas Dinner December 15.
Gaylen Roskens, representing Sanborn’s Dinner Daters, recounted the central role Jay’s Restaurant has played in the vibrant life of the Dinner Date program in Sanborn. Roskens then presented Terry with a wooden serving tray which had been signed by those attending the Dinner.
The story Roskens related was told in a notebook presented to Terry and Deb Jaycox during the Christmas season of 1991. It was compiled by Elizabeth Cleveland, the Sanborn Dinner Date Site Manager at that time.
The first Sanborn Dinner Date meal was served in late September of 1975. After organizers (including Orleen Waund) met at Jay’s and then held a follow-up meeting, the Restaurant was deemed suitable as a location for a meal and fellowship for Senior Citizens. Lucille Scoles was the first Site Manager. Sylvia Andringa is among those who later held the position.
An obstacle arose in August of 1985 as Area Agency on Aging representatives Greg Anliker and Jim Wilson informed the group that Dinner Date could not continue in a restaurant. Suggested alternatives to Jay’s Restaurant included renting the Pike Café building, using the Legion Hall and being a satellite site of Sheldon. These ideas were deemed not feasible due to lack of funds and volunteers. Jay Jaycox offered to take reservations, help with the finances if Dinner Date fell behind, serve a special luncheon “on the house” for those attending a set number of meals and serve the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
A meeting in October of that year led to the Sanborn Meals on Wheels board making a motion to sponsor Dinner Date for six months but then canceling the arrangement. A special meeting was then held at the Legion Hall to make a decision on the future of Dinner Date in Sanborn. At this time Jay Jaycox reaffirmed his support for Dinner Date. An agreement was reached between him and Area Agency on Aging for Jay to be the sponsor and legal contractor. The Agency agreed to pay $1.25 per meal with the Dinner Daters continuing to pay $1.50.
In her compilation, Cleveland paid tribute to Anliker and Wilson for working with government and doing the paperwork to treat Sanborn Dinner Date a Meals on Wheels plan and allow the meals to continue to be served at Jay’s and prepared by their staff.
One year later a name was to be selected for the Sanborn group. The Dinner Daters came up with 32 suggestions for names and the winner was “Jay’s Lunch Bunch.”
The names of the Dinner Date volunteers and those taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy food and fellowship have changed over the 46 years but one name has remained the same. Thank you Marion and Terry Jaycox for the unwavering support of Sanborn Dinner Date!