- Storm damage forced senior center to close, displacing
clients who rely on critical services
ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., June 4, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Florida, in collaboration with the
Florida Council on Aging, today announced a $70,000 donation to the Jefferson Senior Citizens
Center in Monticello, Fla.
After severe storms blew through north Florida this spring, the facility sustained
severe damage, displacing seniors who rely on its critical
services.
"During a heavy rain on April 10,
water came from everywhere. With nowhere else to go, it came into
our building. There were so many emotions because we could no
longer serve the clients or the community. Devastated because we
understood how much the center was needed, and we kept moving
because there was no time to stop," shared Mazie Woodson-Glenn, Jefferson Senior Citizens
Center, Inc. Executive Director. "Duke Energy stepped in to help us
alleviate some of those emotions and financial burdens with a gift
of $70,000. We are so thankful for
Duke Energy and all they do for the community."
The center serves nearly 50 seniors in person and provides
in-home services to more than a dozen others. All clients are 60
years of age or older.
"I am grateful for the substantial donation that Duke Energy
made to the Jefferson Senior Center," said state Rep. Allison Tant. "This substantial assistance from
this vital community partner will help ensure that repairs can be
made to the building after the deluge of rain flooded the facility.
The work of the senior center is vital to the health and well-being
of the citizens served. Duke Energy learned about this need and
stepped up to address it decisively."
There are a variety of services the center offers, including hot
meals, assistance with utility bills and even a place to play
bingo.
"The Florida Council on Aging (FCOA) is enormously grateful to
Duke Energy for their ongoing partnership with our members, and
especially so for this tremendously impactful donation to the
seniors of Jefferson County," said
Margaret Lynn Duggar, Executive
Director of the Florida Council on Aging. "Duke Energy was not only
generous, but also quick in their response. Senior centers offer
socialization, which we now know is essential to older persons'
actual health, and also to their nutrition through the meals
served, and to their access to critical information and connection
to other needed services. Senior centers are lifesavers for many
older adults. Duke Energy has demonstrated through this donation
that they know this."
From floors to furniture, the center has begun the process of
recovery. This donation will help renovate the building so it is
safe for seniors to return and reconnect with their community.
"At Duke Energy, we recognize the importance of senior centers
and the critical role they play in supporting some of our most
vulnerable customers," said Melissa
Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "As a company,
we power the lives of our customers but we also want to make a
difference in the lives of the customers and communities we
serve."
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300
megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million
residential, commercial and industrial customers across a
13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric
utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities
serve 1.7 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition,
keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the
forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions
from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions
from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in
major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including
expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and the
Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook,
and visit illumination for stories about the people and
innovations powering our energy transition.
Media contact: Ana Gibbs
Media line: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy