Naples Senior Center Adds Penny Taylor as Disaster Relief Resource Coordinator

Naples Senior Center announced the appointment of former Collier County Commissioner and former Naples City Councilor Penny Taylor as its first-ever Disaster Relief Resource Coordinator, assisting local seniors with recovery efforts post Hurricane Ian. The position is being funded through the Collier Community Foundation.

Older adults were especially hit hard by the recent hurricane with limited financial resources or family members to assist them. As the Disaster Relief Resource Coordinator, Taylor will work with seniors and connect them with the community resources they need to rebuild their lives, particularly those living in low-income areas of Collier County.

“Penny’s experience chairing the Board of Collier County Commissioners during two major disasters, once during Hurricane Irma and again during the Covid pandemic, uniquely positions her to collaborate and facilitate recovery strategies for seniors in need of immediate help,” said Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, President/CEO for Naples Senior Center.

Taylor, a local photographer who has lived in the community for over 40 years, brings more than two decades of public service to Naples Senior Center, including 10 years on the Naples City Council and two terms on the Board of Collier County Commissioners.

“I am excited for this opportunity to join Naples Senior Center,” Taylor said. “I know the territory and I know the players. I have proven my ability to bring people together to get important things done. My responsibilities with Naples Senior Center offer me the opportunity to move from setting policy to practical implementation to help residents.”

The Disaster Relief Resource Coordinator position is being created in collaboration with the Collier Community Foundation through its reactivated “Collier Comes Together Hurricane Fund,” which benefits Southwest Florida nonprofit relief efforts and programs to get funds where they are most needed, quickly and efficiently at no administrative cost.

“We are honored to collaborate on this much needed community resource,” said Eileen Connolly-Keesler, President/CEO for the Collier Community Foundation. “Naples Senior Center is an effective and essential organization for older adults in Collier County and is well equipped to help seniors recover from the aftermath of this devastating hurricane.”

Naples Senior Center is the only human services agency of its kind, providing “one-stop shop” services addressing the emotional and social needs of seniors in Collier and southern Lee counties. Since opening its doors in January 2014, the organization has seen a surge in the depth and scope of need for comprehensive senior services in this region.

All programs and services are provided by licensed and credentialed professionals. These include Structured Dementia Respite Support; Geriatric Case Management and Senior Outreach Programs; and Emotional Support Services as well as a “choice” Food Pantry.

An average of 40 different social, educational and wellness programs also are offered each week thanks to a dedicated corps of more than 200 trained and vetted volunteers. Among these social programs are classes in art, music and film; brain fitness and educational seminars; courses in technology and computer science; physical well-being; and interest groups. The center serves everyone regardless of backgrounds and beliefs.

To accommodate future growth, Naples Senior Center is constructing a new 30,000-square-foot building on Autumn Oaks Lane, just a block south of Immokalee Road. This site will enable seniors to benefit from a nurturing, natural setting that offers outdoor space for walking, quiet contemplation and low-impact exercise programs such as tai chi. The project is being funded through a capital campaign that was launched in 2019 and was accelerated by a $5-million commitment from philanthropists Patty and Jay Baker.

For additional information on the Naples Senior Center and its comprehensive programs and social services for area seniors and their families, visit www.NaplesSeniorCenter.org.