FAMILY AND FRIENDS, KNOW THIS SOMEWHERE A SENIOR IS SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS ALONE. A CENTRAL FLORIDA ORGANIZATION NEARING 60 YEARS OF SERVICE IS NOW STEPPING UP TO SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS. AND THEY’RE ASKING YOU FOR HELP. WESH 2’S LINDSAY KAPLAN SHOWS US HOW THEY’RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED. I RETIRED, AND I HAVE ALWAYS VOLUNTEERED OR BEEN INVOLVED WITH VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION, AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT I FELT REALLY GOOD ABOUT FOR SIX YEARS. DEBBIE BASS HAS DEDICATED HER TIME TO SENIORS FIRST, A NONPROFIT FILLING GAPS FOR SENIORS SO THEY CAN LIVE IN THEIR HOMES AND MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE. WE HAVE A MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BANK THAT PROVIDES EQUIPMENT LIKE WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, CANES. WE DO VIRTUAL CLASSES WITH THEM. THEY PLAY BINGO, THEY DO ART CLASSES. THAT’S JUST A FEW SERVICES. THEY ALSO RUN MEALS ON WHEELS, DELIVERING TO 600 SENIORS. THIS PICTURE SAYS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT INTERACTION. WE MAY BE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT THEY TALK TO THAT DAY. IT’S SO NICE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE HELPING AND BRINGING A SMILE TO THESE PEOPLE, AS WELL AS FOOD. IN MARCH, THEY ROLLED OUT THE GARDEN PATCH PROGRAM, DELIVERING THESE FRESH VEGETABLES FROM FOUR ROOTS FARM THAT CEO MARSHA LORENZ SAYS IS CRITICAL FOR SENIORS HEALTH. OVER THREE TONS, THREE TONS T TONS OF ACTUAL PRODUCE THAT WE’VE DELIVERED IN THIS TIME PERIOD. THEY ALSO HAVE THIS FOOD PANTRY WHERE SENIORS CAN DRIVE UP. AS YOU CAN SEE DURING THE HOLIDAYS, THEY GET A LOT OF DONATIONS, BUT THE NEED IS YEAR ROUND AND THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS THAT YOU CAN GET INVOLVED. THEY CAN GET INVOLVED WITH OUR PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH IS THE COMPUTER PROGRAM. IF THEY WANT TO TEACH A CLASS, THEY CAN COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD LUNCH SITES. ANY ONE OF THE 17 LUNCH SITES HELP CALL BINGO. THEY CAN COLLECT PERSONAL CARE ITEMS. AS THE NEW YEAR APPROACHES, AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A RESOLUTION TO GIVE BACK TO THE GENERATION THAT HELPED BUILD THE COMMUNITY. WE GET TO ENJOY TODAY. IT IS VERY MOVING TO ME JUST TO BE IN THEIR LIVES, AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO A PHONE CALL OR A VISIT COVERING ORANGE COUNTY, LINDSAY SABLON, WESH TWO NEWS. THE CEO SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO REACH OUT TO SENIORS IN YOUR LIFE, INVITE THEM OVER, OR JUST ASK THEM HOW THEY’RE DOING. IF YOU’D LIKE TO DONATE YOUR TIME OR TREASURE, THERE’
Seniors First to celebrate 60 years of service in Central Florida in 2026
Updated: 4:24 PM EST Dec 26, 2025
While the holidays are a time of togetherness, for seniors it can be very lonely. Seniors First works daily to make sure the older population in Central Florida is cared for, and in 2026, they will be celebrating 60 years of service. They offer an array of programs all with the goal of making sure seniors can maintain their quality of life while staying in their home. “We do in home services, public guardianship, we have a medical equipment bank, we do telephone reassurance, shopping assistance. When I talk about the in-home services, it’s homemakers that do housekeeping, grocery shopping, personal care assistance, companionship, respite for caregivers,” said CEO of Seniors First Marsha Lorenz. With the help of volunteers, they provide Meals on Wheels to 600 seniors. This March, they launched Garden Patch Delivery which provides fresh fruits and vegetables to seniors. The produce comes from 4Roots and then is handed out with recipe cards, so the seniors know what to make with it. They started with delivering to 40 people and it’s already grown to 170. “We’re just super excited about being able to offer something that supplements what they’re already getting, and it aligns with our mission,” she said. “We keep them healthy, we keep them out of the hospital, and we allow them to remain in their own home for as long as possible.”They can do this thanks to volunteers like Debbie Bass, who wanted to donate her time after retiring. When you see where they live, you hear that we may be the only people that they talk to that day, you are so attached, and it’s so nice to know that you are helping and bringing a smile to these people, as well as food,” Bass said. As for how you can help, Lorenz said reach out to a senior you know over the holidays and invite them over. If you’d like to donate your time or treasure, you can here.
While the holidays are a time of togetherness, for seniors it can be very lonely.
Seniors First works daily to make sure the older population in Central Florida is cared for, and in 2026, they will be celebrating 60 years of service. They offer an array of programs all with the goal of making sure seniors can maintain their quality of life while staying in their home.
“We do in home services, public guardianship, we have a medical equipment bank, we do telephone reassurance, shopping assistance. When I talk about the in-home services, it’s homemakers that do housekeeping, grocery shopping, personal care assistance, companionship, respite for caregivers,” said CEO of Seniors First Marsha Lorenz.
With the help of volunteers, they provide Meals on Wheels to 600 seniors. This March, they launched Garden Patch Delivery which provides fresh fruits and vegetables to seniors. The produce comes from 4Roots and then is handed out with recipe cards, so the seniors know what to make with it. They started with delivering to 40 people and it’s already grown to 170.
“We’re just super excited about being able to offer something that supplements what they’re already getting, and it aligns with our mission,” she said. “We keep them healthy, we keep them out of the hospital, and we allow them to remain in their own home for as long as possible.”
They can do this thanks to volunteers like Debbie Bass, who wanted to donate her time after retiring.
When you see where they live, you hear that we may be the only people that they talk to that day, you are so attached, and it’s so nice to know that you are helping and bringing a smile to these people, as well as food,” Bass said.
As for how you can help, Lorenz said reach out to a senior you know over the holidays and invite them over. If you’d like to donate your time or treasure, you can here.