ECCC’s outreach ‘tremendous’ in 2022
The kitchen at the Holy Family Senior Center was busy in 2022, serving over 26,000 meals to homebound seniors.
And now, thanks to funds donated by the J. Ben Watkins Private Foundation, the facility now has a commercial grade stove and oven, sure to boost the array of food options in the year to come.
“The Elder Care Community Council has been thriving throughout 2022, outreach to seniors during the year has been tremendous,” said Valentina Webb, president of the ECCC, which oversees the operation out of the city-owned building at 203 Dr. Frederick Humphries Drive. Donna Duncan serves as vice president, Bonnie Kellogg as past president and Betsy Nofziger as secretary/treasurer.
Over 120 individuals are on the list to receive lunches Monday through Friday, with volunteers who deliver the meals to the homebound crucial to its success. A total of 26,553 meals were served last year out of the kitchen at Holy Family.
“The only way this is possible is through volunteers and generous donations from individuals and businesses in the community,” said Webb. “ECCC could not do the work of caring for elders without these contributions. Special thanks to all the partners and donors that contributed to making the holidays bright. Help us keep demonstrating that all seniors in Franklin County know that they are important.”
Webb provided a list of suggestions of ways to become involved with ECCC during the upcoming year.
There is of course volunteering time to deliver meals, which can be done by calling 850-370-0116 for more information; by donating at Paypal.me/ecccfranklin, or by check to ECCC, PO Box 335, Eastpoint, FL 32328; or by shopping at Amazon Smile and choosing Elder Care Community Council as your charity of choice.
In addition, consider supporting ECCC at the Butts & Clucks in Apalachicola, Jan. 20 and 21; or by attending the Ilse Newell concert at Holy Family Feb. 11 to support ECCC which will be serving food and drinks with donations to ECCC. Delta Blues ticket information is at www.inconcertapalachicola.org.
Come to Yoga class every Tuesday and Thursday 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family, sponsored by ECCC and the Florida Department of Health in Franklin County. Both beginners and chair yoga participants are welcome. The next chair yoga session is Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m.(Call (614) 425-4548 for information)
Upcoming events include the Health Fair Saturday, Jan. 14 at Holy Family Senior Center, the Volunteer Appreciation party on Thursday, Feb. 23; and the 26th annual ECCC SGI Sizzler on Saturday, July 22.
ECCC, a 501(c)(3) community organization, has a mission to bridge the gaps in services for elders living in Franklin County. Call 850-370-0116 to get involved or if you know someone that needs assistance. Email ecccfranklin@gmail.com to be placed on the mailing list for updates and information about future offerings at The Center. Like us on Facebook at “ECCC-E Triple C”
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.