Benefits · Nutrition

How to apply for Suwannee River Economic Council — Meals on Wheels + Congregate Meals + CCE In-Home Services (Hamilton County)

Suwannee River Economic Council, Inc. (SREC) — 501(c)(3) nonprofit; contracted local AAA delivery partner under Elder Options (Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging, PSA 3) for OAA Title III nutrition + Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) + Senior Services across an EIGHT-COUNTY service area (Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee, Union)

Who it's for

Suwannee River Economic Council (SREC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the contracted local AAA delivery partner under Elder Options (Mid-Florida AAA, PSA 3) for an EIGHT-COUNTY service area: Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee, and Union. For Hamilton County residents, SREC operates aging programs at 1509 Martin Luther King Drive SW, Jasper, FL 32052. SREC operates: (1) FREE Congregate Meal Sites + Home Delivered Meals through Title III-B, C-1, C-2, and III-E (Older Americans Act) — funded by the Mid-Florida AAA / Elder Options; (2) Home Delivered Meals, Case Management, Personal Care, Homemaker, Respite, Companion, Emergency Alert Response, and Specialized Medical Equipment through the Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) program — funded by the Mid-Florida AAA / Elder Options, Florida Department of Elder Affairs; (3) Alzheimer's Disease Initiative (ADI): Respite, Case Management, and Specialized Medical Equipment — funded by Elder Options / Florida Department of Elder Affairs; (4) Home Care for the Elderly (HCE): Case Management, Basic Subsidy (Caregiver Allowance), and Specialized Medical Equipment — funded by Elder Options / Florida Department of Elder Affairs; (5) Senior Services case management + in-home support across the eight-county region. Critical pricing: SREC provides Title III services at NO CHARGE for seniors 60+, although contributions are appreciated for food and home-delivered meals. Low-income seniors receive priority for additional financial aid programs. As federally-funded programs, eligibility for the senior pathway is age 60+ and Hamilton County residency; home-delivered meals require homebound status. Apply by calling the SREC Hamilton County office directly at (386) 792-1136 or via Elder Options' helpline at 1-800-262-2243.

SREC's four-county service area (Suwannee + Hamilton + Levy + Dixie) means Hamilton County seniors share infrastructure with Suwannee, Levy, and Dixie residents — regional economies of scale enable consistent service delivery across rural North Central Florida. Hamilton's modest senior population (~14,000 total residents) means local congregate site capacity is limited; coordinate with SVTA paratransit (fl.hamilton.svta_transit) for rides to congregate sites. Free meals (no charge, donation-encouraged) at congregate sites and home delivery. Home-delivered meals require homebound status. Low-income seniors receive priority for SREC's broader financial aid programs. For Hamilton seniors who prefer Elder Options direct intake, the helpline 1-800-262-2243 routes to SREC for the Hamilton region.

What you'll need

Proof of age 60+ (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or birth certificate)
Proof of Hamilton County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
For home-delivered meals: documentation of homebound status (illness, disability, or isolation)
For congregate meals at SREC sites: ambulatory mobility to attend
For CCE in-home services: case manager assessment + income documentation for sliding-scale sponsorship determination

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: (386) 792-1136

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Suwannee River Economic Council — Meals on Wheels + Congregate Meals + CCE In-Home Services (Hamilton County). I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need proof of age 60+ (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or birth certificate), proof of Hamilton County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence), for home-delivered meals: documentation of homebound status (illness, disability, or isolation) — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Renewals

annual reassessment by SREC case manager; meals continue without interruption pending recertification

Official source →Last verified · September 3, 2026

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.