Citrus County’s Friends of the Community Centers is a not-for-profit organization that operates to enhance the local community centers and assist local homebound seniors with Meals on Wheels.

Friends of the Community Centers Help Citrus County’s Seniors

The Friends organization is made up of members from the local community centers who attend monthly meetings to plan fundraisers and events and then in turn, use the money raised to fulfill “wish lists” for the community centers. They have provided many items over the years that range from computer gaming systems, tables, chairs, games, ice machines, and have even had billiard tables recovered.

In 2011, the Friends decided to open a gift shop that would donate all proceeds from sales to the Meals on Wheels Program. The Circle of Friends Gift Shop operates from the Citrus County Resource Center (located at 2804 W Marc Knighton Ct, Lecanto) Monday through Friday, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The shop has a variety of unique gift items at reasonable prices. The gift shop is staffed by members of the Friends of the Community Center, who are all volunteers. When you purchase items from this store, you can feel good knowing that any proceeds from your purchase will go toward helping to feed Citrus County’s homebound, vulnerable seniors.

Each year during March, the Friends present a check of the proceeds from sales at the gift shop the previous year. This year’s total donation of $9,389.69 brings the grand total donated since 2011 to over $50,000! This is quite an achievement and has provided over 8,400 meals to seniors in need of assistance right here in our neighborhoods.

For more information about the Friends and/or Meals on Wheels, please call (352) 527-5975.