Sarasota Senior Friendship Centers

As you make the gentle turn to the west on Mound Street near the junction of 301 and US 41, many recognize the beautiful campus that sits between 301 and Osprey Avenue. Some are even aware that this is the Main Campus for Friendship Centers. However, I believe relatively few members of our community are aware of what goes on at this amazing community facility that is adjacent to a beautiful and somewhat under-utilized city park.

Friendship Centers was founded as Senior Friendship Centers in 1973 by Brother William Geenen, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. Brother Geenen's goal was quite simple; to help older adults in Southwest Florida live with dignity and independence. Since that time, Friendship Centers has been a leader in developing innovative and cost effective services for our older population. The organization's model focuses on volunteerism, or as we like to say, “People Helping People”. It is a great organization and I am very proud to serve on the Board of Governors.

What began in a small bungalow in downtown Sarasota now spans five counties and has grown into a national model for providing services to our older population. Adult day services provide a safe and caring place for older adults with memory and cognitive impairments, allowing their caregivers to work, run errands, attend a support group at the center, or take a much needed break. The Activity Centers in Sarasota and Venice help prevent social isolation by providing light-filled spaces to take classes, exercise, play cards, socialize, create art, dance and make friends. And the healthcare clinics provide medical and dental care for low-income adults aged 50-plus at clinics staffed by volunteer physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals.

If it weren’t for our clinics, older adults in our community may not seek treatment, because they cannot afford it. They would postpone dental care, enabling tooth loss and infections. They may let vision problems, diabetes maintenance or hypertension remain untreated. They might ignore a respiratory infection, allowing for pneumonia and other problems.

For these reasons and more, Friendship Centers is in dire need of support. Although we have volunteers providing medical and dental care, we need to pay clinic support staff and nurses. We need to keep the lights on and the AC running. We need to maintain our building structures.

Today, it costs more than $1,000 per day just to keep each Activity Center open. And while costs rise, community support and state/government funding continue to decline. Friendship Centers is currently seeking assistance from the state to make these spaces safer for older adults, through facility improvements and additions, but more help is needed. As a private nonprofit, Friendship Centers relies heavily on support from the community.

This is why we need you.

Come take a tour to find out more about services and programs, volunteer, donate, sponsor an event, or simply tell your friends. Together we can help older adults in our community successfully navigate the journey of aging.

You can contact Friendship Centers at 941-493-3065 or visit FriendshipCenters.org, and click the donate button at the top of the page.

Paul Caragiulo is a former Sarasota County Commissioner and Sarasota City Commissioner.

Sarasota Senior Friendship Centers