07/06/2026
To the people of Stoddard County. After months of strategizing and decision making it is with sad hearts that Stoddard County Gospel Mission has decided to close its satellite location in Puxico, August 31 2026.
Sixteen years ago the SCGM Board of directors voted to open the Puxico location, but after sixteen years of no sustainable revenue generated, and putting a liability on the Dexter location, which was the sole financial support to keep Puxico open, the board of directors have made a sound business decision to close Puxico. Nobody wants to see the Puxico location close, especially the Board of Directors, but after sixteen years of no sustainable revenue, the board has decided it can no longer continue supporting the Puxico location. No business can remain solvent with losses, year after year. SCGM is a non profit but still has to make financial gain to sustain the business, employees and all the families we feed and support in Stoddard county. All gains from the Dexter location goes back into the community. SCGM feeds roughly 650 families a month, roughly 1500 people.
The Puxico location (with assistance from Dexter) supported roughly 106 families. Only 18 children under the age of 18, 88 families over 55 yrs old and 10 Veterans. Roughly 208 people total. These people are already being integrated into the system at the Dexter location. These clients will be receiving increased benefits from the Dexter location, such as senior boxes donated by Sikeston food bank. The dedicated Ms Angie and her dedicated volunteers at the Dexter food department are excited to have the Puxico clients and will ensure all their needs are met. The Puxico location is only open one day a week because there were not enough customers to remain open even two days a week, (previously it was open two days a week). Very few people supported the store by shopping there. Several locals were wanting to know what they could do to stop the closing of the location. When asked, if they had ever been in the store. The answer was No. People not shopping there, associated with overhead cost, and cost contributed to people dumping their rubbish on the property after hours, are the reasons for closing. Aside from clothing, only about 25% of donations collected were in resalable condition with 75% driving up the cost of waste disposal. The rent of the building, employee salaries, cost of heating and cooling, insurance, supplies, along with expenses associated with Dexter employees; sorting/packaging/delivering/pickup to the store and their salaries, waste removal, vehicle use etc.
This was not an easy decision, but it was a solid business decision. The Board of Directors, with a heartfelt conscience, made in good faith, a decision not to continue jeopardizing the business, employees, mission and future of the Dexter SCGM.
The long time dedicated, loyal employees of Lola Griffin, Jean Whittenberg and Linda Ruser did all they could to make this location successful. It was not for lack of initiative, dedication and love of this store that caused its closing. These special women dedicated their lives to this store. The Board of Directors, Mission director and coworkers at the Dexter location love and cherish these women and wish them the best in their future endeavors.
Mrs. Kellye Shotwell
Even non profits have to make gains to stay in business. A nonprofit organization (NPO) operates to benefit the public or a specific community, focusing on social, educational, religious, or charitable goals rather than personal financial gain. Unlike for-profit businesses, any surplus revenue generated by a nonprofit must be reinvested into the organization’s mission, not distributed to owners or shareholders, a principle known as the non-distribution constraint .
