Benefits · Nutrition
How to apply for Senior Connection Center Senior Meals + NU-HOPE Local Delivery (Hardee)
Senior Connection Center, Inc. (SCC) — Area Agency on Aging + ADRC for PSA 6 (Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Highlands, Hardee); local delivery in Hardee through NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc.
Who it's for
Senior Connection Center, Inc. (SCC) is the nonprofit Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center designated by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs for Planning and Service Area 6 — covering Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Highlands, and Hardee counties. For Hardee residents, SCC coordinates Older Americans Act Title III nutrition through NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc., the same nonprofit that serves neighboring Highlands County. NU-HOPE delivers congregate meals at senior centers in Wauchula, Bowling Green, and Zolfo Springs, plus home-delivered Meals on Wheels for homebound Hardee seniors. The NU-HOPE two-county operation also coordinates transportation, in-home services, and case management — meaning a single intake (NU-HOPE) handles the full senior services portfolio for Hardee seniors. Eligibility is age 60+ and Hardee residency for congregate meals; home-delivered meals additionally require functional documentation of homebound status. Apply by calling the SCC Elder Helpline at 1-800-336-2226 for a phone-based needs assessment, or contact NU-HOPE directly for Hardee-specific intake.
Congregate meals require only age 60+ and Hardee residency — call the SCC Elder Helpline at 1-800-336-2226 to be referred to a Wauchula, Bowling Green, or Zolfo Springs meal site. Home-delivered meals additionally require documented homebound status — a NU-HOPE or SCC case manager makes that determination, and prioritized client lists may apply. There is no income or asset test for OAA services, but participants are offered the option to contribute voluntarily based on means; no one is denied for inability to pay. NU-HOPE's two-county integrated operation (Highlands + Hardee) means Hardee seniors can also access NU-HOPE's transportation, in-home services, and case management through the same intake. Hardee's small population means the prioritized client list constraint is sharper than in larger PSA 6 counties.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or birth certificate)
- Proof of Hardee County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For home-delivered meals: documentation supporting homebound status (typically a physician's note or NU-HOPE case manager assessment)
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 1-800-336-2226
Renewals
annual reassessment by NU-HOPE or SCC case manager
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.