MASARYKTOWN, Fla.– On Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020 a new congregate meal site opened at the Masaryktown Community Center. This new site is one of three that Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. (MFCS) now operates in Hernando County. One is located at the Jerome Brown Community Center (99 Jerome Brown Place, Brooksville) and the other is at Spring Hill Head Start/Early Head Start (11245 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill). The opening last week was the culmination of months of preparation. MFCS has been working on the project since last September.
“I am excited about the partnership with the Masaryktown Community Center and the opportunity to provide nutritionally-balanced meals to seniors in this part of Hernando County,” said Michael Georgini, CEO of Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. “In addition to meals, seniors will have the opportunity to participate in group activities and enjoy social interaction.”
Any person who is 60 years old or above is eligible to participate in this program and there is no income requirement. Meals are free; however, donations are always welcome. Main funding for the program comes from federal, state and local grants. United Way provides additional funds.
Meals are delivered frozen to the three locations. There is a registered dietician on staff who makes sure that the meals are healthy and well-balanced.
Those who cannot get to the centers can have five frozen meals delivered to their homes at one time. The clients can then thaw and reheat them, as needed. Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. also has ‘Pets on Wheels’ as part of their home delivery program. Two volunteers make up packages of dog and/or cat food which are delivered to the clients when they get their meals.
The Masaryktown site’s initial hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. MFCS hopes to expand to other days, as funding becomes available. Trans Hernando provides transportation to the centers for those who don’t drive. For more information on Trans Hernando, call 352-799-1510.
Steve Homan, Director of Senior Services for MFCS, hopes that the congregate dining at the Masaryktown Community Center will just be the start of other services offered to seniors there.
“We start with the meals program and expand from there. We let the clients tell us what else they’d like to see at their meal site, for example guest speakers on such topics as identity theft.”
Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. is always looking for other locations for their congregate dining program. With 27 percent of the population in Hernando County over the age of sixty-five and slightly more than 1/3 of our seniors classified as disabled, these programs are sorely needed.
For more information on the congregate meal sites or to sign up to participate call 352-796-1426.
For more information on other programs offered by Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. call 352-796-1425 or go to www.mfcs.us.com
