Korth Center to close Nov. 25; senior services to continue in Cedar County

Published 5:30 am Wednesday, November 11, 2026

By From the CCR newsroom

The Korth Center, also known as the Stockton Senior Center, will close its physical location at 309 W. Englewood in Stockton effective Nov. 25, 2026, with the final in-person meal service scheduled for Nov. 24.

The center, which has operated since 2007, has provided meals, social activities and a gathering place for area senior citizens. Older adults have visited the facility for daily lunches, card games and opportunities to socialize. The center has also offered noon meals for pickup at the back entrance.

Despite the closure, Care Connection for Aging Services will continue providing essential programs, including home-delivered meals and other senior support services, to older adults in Stockton and throughout Cedar County.

According to Care Connection, the decision to close the facility follows several ongoing financial and operational challenges, including stagnant funding, rising operating costs, reductions in Senior Services Growth & Development (SSGD) funding and declining attendance.

The deteriorating condition of the building and parking lot, along with associated safety concerns, also contributed to the decision.

Over the years, the Korth Center Board has organized fundraisers to help offset operating expenses and support the center’s continued operation. Care Connection also explored options to keep the facility open, but determined that the combination of financial challenges, declining participation and needed repairs made continued operations at the location unsustainable.

“We understand how much the Korth Center means to the Stockton community, and this was not the outcome we wanted,” said Wendy Martin, executive director of Care Connection for Aging Services. “We have made every effort to find a way to continue operating at this location. However, stagnant funding, reductions in SSGD support, declining attendance, and the significant repairs needed to address the condition of the building and parking lot have created challenges we can no longer overcome. Our responsibility is to make responsible decisions with the resources available to us, ensure the safety of the older adults we serve, and continue providing the programs and services they depend on.”

Although the physical location will close, Care Connection reports that the need for senior services in Stockton remains. Since the beginning of 2026, nearly 6,000 meals have been delivered to homebound older adults in the community.

Care Connection receives approximately one-third of its funding from local donors and has stated that contributions raised in Cedar County will remain in the county to benefit its residents. Funds raised and held specifically for the Korth Center will remain dedicated to serving older adults in the Stockton community.

Older adults who previously attended the Korth Center are welcome to visit the El Dorado Springs Senior Center, located at 604 S. Forest in El Dorado Springs, approximately 30 minutes from Stockton. The facility offers congregate meals, opportunities for social interaction and other senior services.

Care Connection is also seeking rental office space in Stockton to continue providing in-person care management services to local residents.

“This closure is not an end to our commitment to Stockton or the older adults who call this community home,” Martin said. “We will continue working to connect older adults with the resources, nutrition, and support they need. While we recognize that traveling to El Dorado Springs may be difficult for some, we want older adults to know they are welcome there, and we remain committed to serving them.”

The Korth Center will continue serving lunch through Nov. 24 before closing its doors the following day.

Older adults and caregivers seeking services may contact the El Dorado Springs Senior Center at 417-876-5574. Additional information about Care Connection’s programs and services is available by calling 800-748-7826 or visiting goaging.org.

The Cedar County Republican will provide additional coverage of the circumstances surrounding the closure and its impact on the Stockton community in a future edition.