October 7, 2023
The Annual Oyster Supper will be celebrated as the Lone Jack Civic Club continues Lone Jack’s many years of community service. For over 100 years, various organizations and folks of Lone Jack have continued this tradition of working together to bring oysters, homemade jellies, quilts and other goods to benefit residents in the community. Again this year over 50 Lone Jack Civic Club members are working tirelessly to prepare hundreds of oyster meals for those that often return yearly for the Oyster Supper.
Records indicate that as early as 1907, Lone Jack residents (primarily church ladies) were off and running serving an Oyster Supper in homes, the local lodge, in church basements, garages and the like to raise money to serve those in need in the community. The event has continued throughout the depression, the 40s, the 70s, 90s and on into the 21st century. This tradition started well before electricity had arrived in the Lone Jack community in the late 1920s. In the early years, folks toiled for well under $50 to help those in their community. A quip in the Lee’s Summit Journal in 1929 shows, “The final report….we have $300.09.” Another report shows the largest crowd “they’d ever had and made $135” in 1950. In 2018 records show that 577 meals were served, most being oysters.
In 1992, a group of local residents formed the Civic Club with the goal of uniting friends and neighbors to meet and fulfill the needs of Lone Jack citizens. Community service projects bring folks together. Today their major fundraiser is the Oyster Supper held annually on the first Saturday of November.
The fundraiser helps sponsor an Easter Egg hunt, senior luncheons and scholarships for local high school seniors. In addition, funds assist the Helping Hands Food Pantry, Angel Tree and Linus Quilts for traumatized children and other community needs.
The 100th Oyster Supper is coming up Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Lone Jack Community Center, 509 Bynum Road in Lone Jack, MO. Come help us celebrate. There will also be brisket and hot dogs available and desserts of all sorts. To-go meals are always available.
