SARASOTA – COVID-19 has ramped up Senior Friendship Centers’ food delivery service on the Suncoast.
Communications director, Crystal Rothhaar, says SFC is delivering about 60 percent more food to seniors for free.
“Everybody is worried right not about being able to go outside, being able to go to the grocery store, about whether it’s safe,” Rothhaar said. “So, we’re worried about all the seniors out there who are stuck in their homes and don’t feel like they can safely get nutritious. So, we’re hoping we can help as many people as we can with this program.”
Rothhaar says SFC’s federal meal program is accepting new clients who may need meals in Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, and Lee Counties.
To qualify, people must be at least 60 years old and enrolled in the Older Americans Act. Rothhaar says SFC can help seniors enroll.
Each client receives seven to fourteen frozen or shelf-stable, nutritional meals, once a week.
“The food is planned out by a registered dietitian and has the nutritional content for senior adults,” Rothhaar said. “We have some really great meals like grilled chicken, lasagna, Tuscan pork, Asian chicken; we have all kinds of really yummy things that people would really like.”
SFC delivers food every Monday. But, if you are a new client and are in need of food right now, they have emergency food bags.
Anyone who is interested in receiving meals should call the general number at 941-955-2122 or call the Home Delivered Meals Hotline at:
(941) 556-3208 in Sarasota County
(941) 255-0723 in DeSoto/Charlotte Counties
(239) 236-8684 in Lee County
