Organization and History

Meals on Wheels delivers the first meals in the spring of 1972 thanks to $10,000 in local matching funds.

SSPC begins serving group meals in three Leon County locations, our first Congregate Meal Sites: Georgia Bell Dickinson Apartments, Trinity United Presbyterian Church, and St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral.

Holiday meals are initiated by volunteers Anne and Jack Robertson of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Seniors receive Meals on Wheels when staff and other volunteers may be unavailable to serve on national holidays.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is launched.

The SSPC Kitchen opens. Meals are prepared for the Leon and Wakulla County Nutrition Programs (approximately 550 per day).

In-Home Services begins as funds to provide basic necessary supplies and services such as a bath, clean clothes, a livable environment, trips to the doctor, and respite services for caregivers are secured through the State Community Care Program for the Frail Elderly (CCE).

The Adult Day Center at Gray Memorial United Methodist Church opens its doors to provide quality care for elders while family members receive respite care.

The SSPC moves from the Northwood Mall to a new location at 2518 West Tennessee Street.

Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions and RSVP-Central Panhandle Programs are acquired by ECS, expanding volunteer services to 14 additional counties.

A "Home Dining" option is introduced which enables less frail individuals to purchase home-delivered meals.

The Senior Society Planning Council (SSPC) adopts a new name, Elder Care Services, Inc. (ECS).

The S.T.A.R.S. (Seniors Transporting At Risk Seniors) project is created under RSVP to provide medical transportation, grocery shopping assistance, and other services to clients not served under the other programs.

ECS establishes the Catherine Clark Branch Endowment Fund. Ms. Branch received our services for many years and through her bequest to ECS established a fund to provide services to seniors.

ECS recognizes 100-year-old clients with a "100-Year" Birthday Party. Capital City Bank sponsors the celebration in conjunction with their 100th Anniversary.

Miles for Meals 5K Run/Walk takes place through a partnership with Gulf Winds Track Club.

ECS begins participating at the Alternative Christmas Market held by John Wesley United Methodist Church.

First annual Elder Elf program spreads holiday cheer by matching the community’s generous gifts with our client’s needs.

ECS celebrates its 25th Anniversary at the National Guard Armory.

Ft. Braden Community Center is added as a Congregate Meal Site.

The new Solutions program gives seniors a new option of purchasing in-home services not limited by the availability of government funding.

ECS creates an Information and Referral program to handle the over 2,000 inquiries per year the agency receives requesting information on senior services. This program becomes Senior Outreach Services in 2018.

The Fanny Jo Drake Adult Day Center opens at Grace Lutheran Church. In recognition of a major gift by Meals on Wheels volunteer Roberta Drake, the center is named in honor of her mother-in-law.

Celebrate Seniors Week begins with activities and recognition events honoring seniors, culminating in a fundraiser event, sponsored by Infinity Software Development, Inc. This event becomes Oktoberfest in 2001.

Elder Care goes digital with its first ever website thanks to FSU computer student Randy Baker.

ECS’s Case for Support, The Spirit Should Never Grow Old, wins a national Mature Media Merit Award. This booklet documents ECS’s history, vision, and challenges, presenting four key need areas of seniors in the community and ways to help, now and in the future.

Bethel Towers becomes a Congregate Meal Site.

The Holiday Meals on Wheels program is awarded the Most Innovative Program by the Florida Association of Aging Services Providers. The RSVP program is selected as one of ten national finalists for Mutual of America’s Community Partnership Award.

Celebrate Seniors Oktoberfest moves to Goodwood Plantation as the event expands and attendance nears 500.

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration recognizes ECS as the winner of the 2004 Partnership Award from AstraZeneca and National Managed Healthcare Congress.

ECS replaces its 15 passenger vans with the support of the Frueauff Foundation.

ECS celebrates its 35th Anniversary in the community and begins renovation work on space for new Elder Day Stay center in Lake Ella Plaza.

ECS establishes the A Heart that Serves Meals on Wheels Memorial Fund.

Elder Care celebrates the milestone delivery of its 4 Millionth meal.

ECS begins counseling services for caregivers and clients who are actively in DOEA programs.

Oktoberfest moves to the Tally Pavilion at the Centre of Tallahassee to accommodate the growing crowd of over 700 attendees.

ECS celebrates its 20th annual Oktoberfest, raising $115,000 to sustain and improve senior services in the Big Bend.

Elder Care formalizes the Senior Outreach Services program to create a comprehensive structure between Information & Referral and the material aid provided to meet the immediate needs of area seniors.