The Annie W. Johnson Senior Service Center, located on the Citrus side of Dunnellon and just off Highway 41, has assisted the needy and the elderly since 1976. The well kept former church building is filled with happy individuals socializing and playing cards, pokeno, bingo, exercising, doing crafts such as a quilt, or watching movies or television. One hot meal is served each weekday by volunteers who greet each citizen with a smile and friendly conversation. The average age at the dining tables is 70 years old. Everyone has a name here and is a special person. If you are new to the group, you will be welcomed as if you are long lost family. If you can sing or strum a guitar, then you will be encouraged to provide a song or music that all will try their best to harmonize with you. If you enjoy crafts, you will be asked to help with the quilt that will eventually be sold to raise more money for the operations of the Center. If you just want to talk, then there are those who just want to listen and to share in your stories. No one has to sit at home all alone when the Annie Johnson Senior Service Center doors are open to all Citrus and Marion County residents, without regard to age, race, sex, disability, ethnic origin or religious beliefs.

The doors to the Center will often be opened by those needy individuals or families seeking help with utility bills, rent and mortgage payments. This financial assistance is only offered once a calendar year and is paid directly to the utility company, landlord or mortgage holder. All funds received by the Center, either grants or allocations, go to the clients needs one hundred percent. The Center receives funds from both the United Ways of Citrus County and Marion County, the Progress Energy Neighbor Fund which is administered by the United Way of Citrus County, the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program managed by a local FEMA Board and the United Way of Citrus County, and public donations. The Annie W. Johnson Senior Service Center does not want any person or household to go without the necessary utilities or without shelter. Their goal is to deter this situation from happening for a thirty (30) day period. During the thirty days, the Center can help with referrals or hopefully find a solution to their problems.

The Center also operates a Thrift Shop in Dunnellon that provides the operational funds for the Center. The Thrift Shop is located at 12409 N. Florida Ave., South Dunnellon. Telephone number at the Thrift Shop is 352.465.7957. There are three part-time employees on staff and many volunteers who assist with the operations of both the Center and Thrift Shop.

The Center provides bags of groceries every couple of months to an individual or family, a yearly Christmas basket program and vouchers for clothing or household items from their Thrift Store. Bread is donated by Publix Supermarkets. The Volunteer Way Food Bank, located in New Port Richey, provides food. The Citrus County Post Office employees conduct a food drive twice a year and the Center is the recipient of a portion of the food. Local high schools and Garden Clubs also keep the pantries full during the year. When the shelves are empty, then the staff will shop local sales for food items to sustain the families.

The Annie W. Johnson Senior Service Center has also recently implemented a very small prescription assistance program. This program is to assist individuals with $50.00 toward their highest price prescription. This assistance can be given twice a year to an individual. All money is paid directly to the pharmacy or drug store.

Although Ms. Annie W. Johnson passed away in August 2000, the Board of Directors are dedicated to Ms. Johnson's philosophy to provide services to the needy and elderly and to continue to serve the residents of Citrus and Marion Counties. They have successfully provided this service for more than 28 years. Last year, 212 Citrus County families or 1284 county residents were helped.

The Annie W. Johnson Senior Service Center is located at 1991 West Test Court, Dunnellon, Florida 34433 or telephone 353.489.8021. Lydia Mills is the Executive Director and Cecil McLeod is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

By donating to the Community Fund of the United Way of Citrus County, the Annie W. Johnson Senior Service Center, and other small human service agencies, are provided funding to help local citizens. Without your help, and the help of dedicated volunteers, these small agencies would not exist. Thank you for your continued support.

John Marmish
Executive Director
United Way of Citrus County
5399 West Gulf To Lake Highway
Lecanto, Florida 34461-8531
Telephone 352.527.8894
www.citrusunitedway.org