Silver hairs make impact

There is an influential group of retired women in Missouri known as the Silver Haired Legislature. According to a pamphlet provided by The Silver Haired Legislature, the group has been a powerful force for conscientious public policy in the state of Missouri since 1973. 

Acting as a non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization the group is not affiliated with or supported by any political party.  The Silver Haired Legislature (SHL), works in coordination with the Area Agencies on Aging and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. 

Peggy Don Yates, a Marshfield native (graduate class of 1966) who left right out of High School to travel and explore but later returned to her hometown of Marshfield to retire. “I swore I was never going to come back,” said Peggy while discussing her early years away. “When it was time to retire, we came back so that our kids could take care of us” she said laughing.

Navigating through the slow pace of retirement Peggy found herself in need of something to do. “I was used to being involved in so many things in the big cities, so I needed to get involved in something. I got involved with the Marshfield senior center, which I am a board member of, and learned about the Silver Haired Legislature. I said, I can do this.”

The Silver Haired Legislature is the first organization of its kind in the United States. It has 10 geographic districts covering the entire state of Missouri with a total of 150 citizens who volunteer their time to advocate on behalf of legislature specific to seniors. “The majority leader leads proposed bills to be advocated to the legislature. Then I come in and say, “but the con to this is…”. We try to show both sides. I go up (with another representative) once a month and we meet with certain leaders, depending on what we are trying to do for the senior citizens each year,” explained Yates.

“Since 1973 we have successfully had 60 bills pass for the betterment of seniors. The most familiar to Marshfield would be the farmers market nutrition program. We brought these bills to legislature; of course, the final bills are reworded to their liking, but we are the ones that initiate and organize,” Yates stated. According to the SHL pamphlet the top 5 priorities for 2022: establish funding for the Senior Services Growth and Development program, increase funding for the statewide area agency meals program, apply 5% of the state internet sales tax to assist local areas on aging and expand low-cost high speed internet to rural areas. “It takes a lot of time, and a lot of deciding what is best for senior citizens,” Yates said, “but it’s so rewarding.”

For more information on the Silver Haired Legislature visit the website health.mo.gov/silverhaired or reach out to Peggy Don Yates through the Marshfield Senior Center.