Friends Of Elder Citizens Inc

What Friends Of Elder Citizens Inc does

Friends of Elder Citizens, Inc. (FOEC) is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 and incorporated in 1981, headquartered in Palacios, Texas. FOEC operates two senior centers (Palacios in Matagorda County and Edna in Jackson County), two thrift stores ("Second Chance Thrift" in Edna and "Senior Citizen's Community Thrift Store" in Palacios), congregate meal programs with a certified kitchen meeting Texas Health and Human Services 1/3 daily nutritional allowance requirements, and home-delivered meal services that extend across five counties (Matagorda, Jackson, DeWitt, Goliad, Victoria). Additional services include R Transit transportation, event space rentals, a Help Desk / digital inclusion initiative with free WiFi, and a volunteer program covering gardening, arts and crafts, and historical preservation. The organization primarily serves seniors aged 60+ and people with disabilities in southeast Texas.

FOEC's business model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack. Revenue is generated through private donations, foundation grants (The Trull Foundation, Gulf Coast Medical Foundation), United Way Matagorda and Jackson County allocations, government contracts from the Agency on Aging, Texas Health and Human Services, and the Department of Transportation via the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission, and retail sales from two thrift stores. Most senior-facing services (meals, transportation, center activities) are provided at no cost to eligible recipients; thrift store sales generate operating revenue and subsidized retail goods for the community. FOEC also operates an online FOEC Donation Store powered by Square checkout that enables directed giving for specific needs such as bingo prizes, mobility equipment, and building repairs. Payment acceptance at thrift stores includes Square, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

The organization is lean, with six employees and governance provided by an elected Board of Directors (President Lillian Solis-Smith, Secretary Emily Garcia, members Irene Diaz and Nancy Dotson). Board directors must be Texas residents with at least three-fourths residing in Jackson or Matagorda Counties. FOEC does not operate proprietary technology, a mobile app, or an AI-enabled platform; the recently launched website (May 14, 2025) runs on a standard CMS with Gtranslate multilingual support (English, Spanish, Vietnamese). FOEC is a member of Meals on Wheels America (2022) and maintains community partnerships with local organizations including the Palacios Lions Club, Southbrook Manor, Lyondell Group, and Matagorda County Farm Bureau.

Name

Friends Of Elder Citizens Inc

Legal name

Friends of Elder Citizens, Inc.

Website

https://friendsofeldercitizens.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Friends of Elder Citizens, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating two senior centers, two thrift stores, and meal and transportation programs for seniors 60+ and people with disabilities across five southeast Texas counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSABANAK

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical)

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Adult Day Care & Senior Day Programs

SECONDARYHSABANAM

Meals, Nutrition & Congregate Dining Day Programs

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Adult Day Care & Senior Day Programs

Keywords

• Senior services
• Congregate meals
• Home-delivered meals
• Senior transportation
• Thrift store retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Palacios

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Private donations from individuals and community members supporting senior services
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including The Trull Foundation, Gulf Coast Medical Foundation, and others
3. Government Contracts: Funding from Agency on Aging, Texas Health & Human Services, Department of Transportation through Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission
4. Thrift Store Sales: Revenue from two thrift stores in Edna and Palacios selling donated clothing, furniture, books, and household items. Proceeds fund senior services and activities.
5. United Way Funding: Support from United Way Matagorda and Jackson County

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FOEC provides nutrition, transportation, and socialization services for seniors 60+ and people with disabilities in Matagorda and Jackson Counties, Texas. Core offerings include congregate meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals across five counties, accessible transportation via R Transit, and two thrift stores (Palacios and Edna Second Chance Thrift) whose proceeds fund senior programs. The organization also runs a Help Desk digital inclusion initiative, event space rentals, and a Square-powered online donation platform for directed contributions.

Product overview

Friends of Elder Citizens (FOEC) operates a nonprofit social services organization providing nutrition, transportation, and socialization programs for seniors 60+ in Matagorda and Jackson Counties, Texas. The organization functions as a unified service platform comprising two senior centers (Edna and Palacios), two thrift stores (fundraising operations supporting all programs), congregate and home-delivered meal services, transportation via R Transit, event space rentals, a digital inclusion Help Desk, and an online Donation Store for directed contributions. All services support the organization's mission to prevent seniors from being isolated, neglected, or forgotten.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Second Chance Thrift: DBA name for the Edna Thrift Store, also known as Jackson County Senior Citizen or Senior Center on Google Maps.
• Senior Citizen's Community Thrift Store
• R Transit

Products and services

• Congregate Meals Hot nutritious lunches served at senior centers in Palacios and Edna for individuals 60 years and older and people with disabilities, meeting 1/3 recommended daily allowances from a certified nutritionist-approved kitchen.
• Home Delivered Meals Meals delivered to homebound seniors in Jackson, Matagorda, DeWitt, Goliad, and Victoria counties, including small activities to brighten recipients' days.
• R Transit Transportation Services Accessible transportation services offered to the general public through R Transit, providing seniors and people with disabilities access to appointments, errands, and community destinations.
• Edna Senior Center Senior center located in Edna, Texas (Jackson County), functioning as a cooling station during hot Texas summers with social activities, air conditioning, companionship, and community programs. Houses the Edna Thrift Store.
• Palacios Senior Center Senior center located in Palacios, Texas (Matagorda County), functioning as a cooling station during hot Texas summers with social activities, air conditioning, companionship, and community programs. Houses the administration offices and certified kitchen.
• Edna Thrift Store (Second Chance Thrift) Thrift store operating Monday through Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday mornings, selling donated clothing, furniture, books, and household items. Features 'two for one' specials on clothing and Senior Discount Day with 10% off for shoppers 60+. Proceeds fund senior services.
• Palacios Thrift Store Thrift store across from the Senior Center at 706 Commerce Street, Palacios, open Tuesday-Saturday with '$10 bag' days and Senior Discount Day offering 10% off for shoppers 60+. Re-opened on May 14, 2025 with new inventory. Proceeds fund senior services.
• Event Space Rentals Rental of senior center facilities for family celebrations, parties, business meetings, or public fundraisers, with rates and scheduling available by contacting FOEC.
• Help Desk / Digital Inclusion Services Digital inclusion initiative providing free WiFi at senior centers, with plans to open a Business Center, focused on bridging the digital divide for seniors.
• FOEC Donation Store Online platform enabling donors to direct contributions to specific projects such as bingo prizes, mobility equipment (walkers and canes), building repairs, or other specific needs. Powered by Square checkout.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Meals on Wheels AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022FOEC is a 2022 member of Meals on Wheels America, a national organization supporting home-delivered meal programs. This membership provides networking, resources, and advocacy for senior nutrition programs.
• Golden Crescent Regional Planning CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding contracts through Department of Transportation and coordinates regional planning for senior services in the Golden Crescent region.
• Palacios Lions ClubminorOthersLocal service organization supporting FOEC through community partnerships and donations.
• Southbrook ManorminorOthersCommunity supporter listed on partners page.
• Lyondell GroupminorOthersCommunity supporter listed on partners page.
• Deutschburg CommunityminorOthersCommunity supporter listed on partners page.
• Matagorda County Farm BureauminorOthersLocal agricultural organization supporting community seniors.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Comfort Keepers: National franchised provider of in-home care, companionship, and specialized senior services (including Alzheimer's and dementia support). Comparable to FOEC in addressing senior isolation and ADL support but at national scale via for-profit franchise.
• AARP Foundation: Charitable arm of AARP addressing senior hunger, isolation, and income security through nationwide programs. Mission-aligned incumbent that also competes for senior-focused philanthropic dollars.
• USAging: National association representing Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American aging programs. Operates at a national scale as an umbrella and advocacy body for organizations like FOEC, providing funding and policy infrastructure.
• National Council on Aging (NCOA): National advocacy and service organization for older adults, running flagship programs like BenefitsCheckUp and senior nutrition/fitness initiatives. Comparable mission focus but operates at a national scale rather than direct community delivery.
• Visiting Angels: Nationally franchised provider of non-medical in-home senior care including personal assistance and companionship. Overlaps with FOEC's elderly-support mission and homebound-senior segment but operates for-profit and through a franchise model.

Direct peers

• Bay Aging: Virginia-based Area Agency on Aging delivering congregate meals, home-delivered meals, transportation, and senior center programming across a multi-county rural region. Closest functional analog to FOEC's integrated service hub model.
• PACE Southeast Michigan: Community-based PACE program providing integrated medical and social services to nursing-home-eligible seniors who can remain living in the community. Comparable in wraparound-service philosophy but operates under a different funding/regulatory model.
• Senior Services of North Texas: Texas nonprofit operating senior centers, meal programs, and supportive services for older adults. Comparable in mission and service mix to FOEC, serving a different but similarly mission-driven Texas region.
• Meals on Wheels of San Antonio: Texas-based Meals on Wheels affiliate providing home-delivered meals and senior nutrition services. Directly comparable to FOEC's meal-delivery model and federal/state funding mix, though serving an urban rather than rural footprint.

Regional players

• Houston Food Bank (Senior Services): Regional food bank serving the Greater Houston area with senior-specific grocery and meal-distribution programs. Comparable in nutrition mission and partly in funding channels, though operating at city scale rather than FOEC's rural footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/seniorcenterpalacios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-elder-citizens-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends Of Elder Citizens Inc