Collier County’s First Senior Resource Center

To better reflect the work the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization does in serving Collier County’s senior population and caregivers, Collier Senior Resources at the Golden Gate Senior Center has changed its name to Collier Senior Center-Golden Gate.

“As Collier County’s first senior resource center, the renaming to Collier Senior Center simply better reflects who we are as an organization – past, present and future – as well as our mission of empowering seniors to maintain independent and meaningful lives through programs and services designed to support them and caregivers,” explains Board Chair Jim Barton.

In 2010, Collier Senior Center became the first senior resource center in Collier County when the Women’s Philanthropic Network and Community Foundation established the 501(c)3 tax-exempt, charitable organization as Collier Senior Resources after discovering Collier was only county in Florida without such a resource center and an assessment revealed the need for programs serve the community’s growing older adult population.

Services began with a Virtual Resource Directory for caregivers and, in 2014, the charity continued its expansion opening the Golden Gate Senior Center with the County’s daily hot lunch program, AARP Foundation job training and placement for out-of-work low-income seniors and a weekly Meals of Hope food pantry for anyone in need. 

Since then, the organization has continued to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of Collier seniors and those who care for them, offering free fellowship, enrichment, wellness programs, continuing education and basic services in a safe, diverse, welcoming environment to nearly 1,500 members.

Explains new Senior Center Director Esther Lully, “I’m proud to be part of Collier Senior Center at a time when our community, and especially our seniors, need the vital programs and services we offer. I look forward to working together with our supporters and partners to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community’s older population.”

Lully, who is a certified speaker, leadership trainer/coach and behavioral consultant, minored in Psychology at Southeastern University where she also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Practical Theology before attending Western Governors University for a Master of Science in Management and Leadership. She has worked as an educator, club director and director of family services at area charities including Habitat for Humanity of Collier County and New Horizons of Southwest Florida. Additionally, the new Senior Center Director has volunteered with Hope for Haiti, 919 Ministries and participated extensively in Naples Toastmasters Club. 

Collier Senior Center-Golden Gate is a new name, but the charity continues to provide the same array of free services for seniors, caregivers and those in-need that nourish bodies, minds and spirits:

• More than 20 weekly programs plus other offerings: daily breakfast, hot lunch and coffee bar; weekly food pantry; monthly birthday parties; yoga, dance and exercise classes; art and craft classes; cards and games; holiday parties and additional life-enhancing offerings like blood pressure, vision and diabetes screenings; oral health assessments; balance testing and fall prevention lectures; counseling and support services.
• More than 1,200 hot lunches a month to seniors in-need and weekly access to a Meals of Hope food pantry to 780+ Collier County families, including 330 needy seniors.
• Centralized source for local and long-distance caregivers seeking senior-related information, services and resources in Collier County. 
• Partnerships to provide programs, socialization and convenient access to other agencies.
• Virtual Resource Directory.

The charity maximizes each dollar received by collaborating with trusted partners, including AARP Foundation (job placement and training for out-of-work, low-income seniors), Alzheimer’s Support Network, Area Agency on Aging, Catholic Charities (social services), Collier Area Transport, Collier County Nutrition, Literacy Volunteers, Sheriff’s Office and more.

Collier Senior Center-Golden Gate is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday at 4898 Coronado Parkway, Naples, Florida. For more information or to donate, please call 239-252-4541, or visit CollierSeniorCenter.org.