Mother’s Day 2026 has come and gone, so it’s time now to focus on our dads, and Father’s Day! The Osceola Council on Aging honors Father’s Day, just like Mother’s Day, to show our love, appreciation, and gratitude towards our parents, or those who are parental figures.
Sadly, for many individuals, like me and my siblings, Father’s Day can be a reminder of the loss of a parent, as my father passed away in 2021. Comparably, for those fathers without children or family members close by, they often feel lonely, and isolated. Consequently, for the millions of seniors and older Americans who experience food insecurity, the annual observance is not necessarily celebratory.
To combat this in the Osceola County community, the Osceola Council on Aging (OCOA) hosts an annual fundraising campaign to raise money for special Father’s Day dinners to be delivered on Sunday, June 21, to seniors throughout our community, as an extension of our Meals on Wheels (MOW) initiative. Along with a delicious meal, recipients may also receive a gift and, in some cases, flowers.
We are excited to begin what we hope will become a cherished annual tradition of honoring local fathers. For countless years, the OCOA has celebrated mothers with meal deliveries on Mother’s Day, and this year, we have expanded the program for fathers.
“We look forward to recognizing and honoring the dads in our community and celebrating all they do with this special gesture of gratitude,” said William Santiago, OCOA’s Senior Services director. “Our goal is to support those who may have gone without a hot meal, social connection, or a simple visit during Father’s Day weekend. This program is more than a warm plate of food. It is also an opportunity to check on seniors to make sure they are safe.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately one in three American adults ages of 50-80 report feeling socially isolated. Statistically, nearly 3 in 10 adults 65 and older live alone, with that number increasing to nearly 45-percent for women over the age of 75. MOW provides meal delivery services to those who are unable to prepare their own food, especially the frail and elderly who are confined to their homes.
“For a large population of seniors, it can be difficult to accept they are no longer able to perform tasks they once could, such as cooking,” Santiago said. “We strive to make our nutrition services a steppingstone in that transition, and why the Meals on Wheels program is so important within our community,” The OCOA MOW team of volunteers delivered more than 125,000 meals in 2025, accounting for 20% of the Central Florida region’s total. For nutritional consistence, meals are delivered five days per week, and expanded delivery can be arranged over the weekends for those needing extra support.
Our mission is to raise at least $10,000 to enable our MOW volunteers to serve a hot, fresh, nutritious meal to at least 300 hundred Osceola seniors in recognition of Father’s Day. Contributions can be made for as little as $25.
We are also always looking for volunteers for this initiative. Delivering meals only takes a couple of hours but creates a lasting impact.
To become a volunteer, call 407-846-8532, ext. 1202. If you are unable to donate your time, please donate funds to provide meals for those dads within our community who need the support the most. To make a charitable contribution, visit https://osceolagenerations.org/momdad/.
As with all service programs hosted by the OCOA, we value the ongoing support of our friends, volunteers, supporters, community partners, and of course every employee within our organization. Together we are all making a meaningful impact on our Osceola County senior neighbors.
