A Resolution By The Board Of County Commissioners Of Pasco County, Florida, Declaring The Month Of May 2026 As Older Americans Month In Pasco County

1:11:14With R S five? I don't have things could cast Michael, but wouldn't it?

1:11:20You have jokes. If you are here for Older Americans Month, please step up to the podium.

1:11:27I made it. You gonna put up with that? You're gonna take I have to, I have to.

1:11:32Oh my gosh.

1:11:33Where's the archaeologist at?

1:11:38I will go ahead and read the resolution. Resolution number 26-211, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, declaring the month of May 2026 as Older Americans Month in Pasco County. Whereas in May whereas May is a time for us to recognize and honor Pasco County and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas, older adults and their immense influence on every facet of American society. ANRAS, through their wealth

1:12:08of life experience and wisdom, older adults guide our younger generations and carry forward abundant cultural and historical knowledge. NRAS, older Americans are a vital part of Pasco County's demographic makeup, contributing their time, wisdom, and experience to the community. ANRAS, every citizen in Pasco County should strive to recognize, understand, and address the evolving need of older adults. And whereas older Americans improve our communities through intergenerational relationships,

1:12:39community service, civic engagement, and other activities, ANRAS, the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas and its community partners provide Essential services including nutrition, health and wellness programs, caregiver support, Medicare, Counseling. and in home services that help Older adults remain safe, healthy, and independent. ANRAS, these programs strengthen our community by promoting healthy aging, reducing isolation, and ensuring that older

1:13:09adults have access to the resources they need. ANRAS, in 2026, theme of the Older Americans Month is Champion Your Health, which emphasizes the importance of prevention, wellness, and empowering older adults to take an active role in managing their physical, mental, and social well-being. ANRAS Pasco County and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas urges all Pasco County citizens to recognize the contributions of older. adults and to join in promoting programs and activities

1:13:40that foster connection, inclusion, and support for older adults. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby declares the month of May 2026 as Older Americans Month in Pasco County. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and voting this fifth day of May 2026.

1:14:00Second.

1:14:00All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Mr. Yeager?

1:14:04Well I am honored to bring this resolution for older Americans. I had my grandpa was just shy of 105 when he passed away, and my grandmother was ninety-four and they were so cute. Um they were Joseph and Mary. And um when he was 102, we said to to our kids, we go, What are we gonna get grandpa for his birthday? And he said uh when he was 101, they said Dalmatians, because what do you get somebody that's over over a hundred and one? But

1:14:34um just the the you know having that longevity with them and those conversations and you know being able to pick their brain, I think that's what I say to everybody is, you know what, have those conversations while they're here because when they pass, a piece of history passes, you're never gonna get that firsthand knowledge from them. You know, like they had their papers from Ellis Ellis Island sitting on the on the wall, and just very unique, all the stories. He he didn't have shoes until he moved to the United

1:15:04States, until he was 14. So just you know. all these little things that I learned but um very thankful and also I I serve on the Board of Area of Aging so I wouldn't have missed this resolution for anything but um thank you guys for everything you do and um We're just really tr hoping to get some funding so our seniors don't have to sit on a waiting list and you know, sitting there for months, so um but Anne Marie runs a tight ship and she tries to get all of our phone calls answered and our our senior service and thank

1:15:34you to to um Pasco County for our our seniors. We love everything we do with them. We have so much fun. We go and pop in and bingo's bingo's that's that's that's real. Like you better be ready for bingo. Paula one time called a wrong number and let me tell you they gave Paula the look of death. But um they are super fun and they get it they get into all the games and the crafts and everything. So uh thank you guys and I'll turn it over to you. Mm. Brian, you can start.

1:16:02I'll start us off. Hello, good morning, members of the board. Brian Hoban, Director of Community Services. Wanna first and foremost thank you all for your continued support of our Pasco County Senior Services team, of our phenomenal partnership with Area Agency on Aging and Pasco Minnelless, and of course of Older Americans Month. I also want to just take a second and personally thank you, Anne-Marie. I want to thank you and your phenomenal team. You know, you guys have without your support, without our collaboration and partnership, there's no way we'd be able to serve the Food Insecure

1:16:32seniors, uh, the at-risk seniors that we do every day. That partnership is key and we really appreciate that. I also just want to take a minute just to thank the team. They're the ones doing the work every day. They're the ones feeding the food insecure seniors. I know you hit on the wait list, Commissioner Yeager. We currently have 820 seniors on that waiting list right now. But I also, before I turn it over to Emory, just want to leave one last data element. That really demonstrates the hard work of the team. Last year alone, fiscal year 2025, the team has served 235,000

1:17:03meals to approximately 2,000 seniors at our dining sites and through our home delivered meal program. So phenomenal work is being done and to your point, still more work yet to do. And our

1:17:14food pantry is up and thriving.

1:17:16The food pantry is up and thriving at Elfers. phenomenal impact as well. So I want to turn it over and give a few minutes to Anne Marie as well.

1:17:25Thank you, Commissioner Mariano and Commissioners. First, I want to thank uh Commissioner Yeager. She is an amazing board member. She's very active. Um and uh in terms of phone calls, she takes mine, so thank you very much. Um I I want to recognize our partnership with Pasco County. It truly is a partnership. Um we are very highly regulated and every single day they don't let those regulations get in the way of providing quality services to seniors. So when we talk about food insecure seniors, your staff

1:17:55are making sure that. Seniors are not hungry in Pasco County. Your staff are making sure that seniors can get to life-saving medical appointments. Your staff are making sure that the utility bills of seniors are paid for. And that is possible through the federal and state funding that we receive that we are grateful to partner with Pasco County on. So I want to thank Kathy Pearson, Brian Hoban, Tom Snee, Victoria. Yeah, Mary.

1:18:26Kyle, um and and Marissa, Marissa, and everybody else because it truly is a partnership. Um but we do need additional funding to help the the more than eight thousand seniors that are on the waiting lists for all the different services that we provide. Thank you very much for recognizing Older Americans Month.

1:18:45Yes. Kathy.

1:18:48Kathy Garson, Assistant County Ministry of Public Services, thank you to this amazing team. But I invite each and every one of you one day, one year, once sometime. I know, Commissioner Oakley, you spend a lot of time coming out to the senior centers, and they really do appreciate that. Take a ride on the home delivered meal route. Come on out, see the seniors, visit them. They are so happy to see people. Sometimes that's their only contact. So I invite you in the next year, please join one of our home delivered meal drivers. We'd love to have you. So

1:19:18thank you all. Just one more comment. Your Halloween party is a blast. And the other day I caught myself thinking, what are we gonna do for Halloween? Because we have to amp it up.

1:19:29As long as we can keep Ryan Poben under control.

1:19:33Yeah, they really thought you were nice as the they they were like, Oh he looks great.

1:19:40Stay up here.

1:19:43All right, stand right over there.

1:19:49I want him to feel the pain. Hey, you're big, dude.

1:19:54You're the biggest guy in the room.

1:20:00Yeah, left piece of three and then where you're gonna have something just turn on it. Left. All

1:20:07right,

1:20:08left.

1:20:17I gotta be aware on this.

1:20:36Yeah. Right.

1:20:40Right. Just wanted to say real quick because Commissioner Weightman just reminded me that tomorrow morning 7 30 at Advent Health Ice Center is feeding Pasco's Elderlies annual breakfast fundraising. They're a phenomenal partner and the money that they raise goes to helping again food and secure seniors right directly through Pasco County Senior Services. So thank you for that reminder, Commissioner.