COA Is on a Roll! See What’s New 🚐✨

September 2026

Dear Friends, 

A new Meals on Wheels vehicle, a Community Choice Award for Memory Care and a successful Target Circle campaign—it has been an exciting few weeks!

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of community support for our seniors and the programs that serve them and their families. Thank you, Martin County!

As we head into fall, we’re looking forward to a full calendar of social programs at the Kane Center, along with the return of our ever-fabulous Poinsettia Power Luncheon.

We hope you will join us for an upcoming event or program and see firsthand all that the Council on Aging Martin County is doing for our community - and how you can be part of the excitement.



Sincerely, 

Karen Ripper, President and CEO

It’s large, shiny, well-equipped to keep hot food hot and cold food cold - and ready to roll! Meet the newest member of the Council on Aging Martin County fleet: our new Meals on Wheels truck.

An official ribbon-cutting took place during the annual Summer Sendoff at the end of August.

The purchase of the truck was made possible by a challenge grant from the United Way Foundation of Martin County and the generous participants at COA’s Pep Rally Gala in February. During the ceremony, CEO Karen Ripper thanked the Foundation’s Board of Directors for awarding the grant to COA, as well as everyone at the Gala whose contributions helped meet the challenge.

Meals on Wheels provides hot, nutritious noontime meals to Martin County seniors who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. A dedicated team of volunteers delivers more than 500 meals each weekday, providing not only a healthy meal, but also a warm smile and an important wellness check. If volunteers notice that a client may need additional assistance, they alert COA’s care navigators so the concern can be addressed.

Volunteers also delivered meals each weekday to COA’s Senior Dining Centers throughout the county. The new vehicle provides reliable transportation for these deliveries and helps ensure that this vital service continues to operate at the highest standard.

For info on how YOU can be a Meals on Wheels volunteers, visit www.coamartin.org/volunteer/.

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without Poinsettia Power, the Council on Aging Martin County’s beloved Holiday Bazaar, Luncheon and Fashion Show benefiting Meals on Wheels. It’s set for December 1 at Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa. 

Guests can look forward to a festive day filled with holiday shopping, a delicious luncheon, a hat parade, an amazing silent auction, and a fabulous fashion show — all while supporting Martin County seniors. Proceeds from Poinsettia Power help the Council on Aging provide hot, nutritious meals and a friendly connection to local seniors who depend on Meals on Wheels.

Tickets sell out quickly, so now is the time to secure your seat or gather your friends and reserve a table! Tables are a wonderful way to celebrate the season with friends, neighbors, colleagues or clients while making a meaningful difference in our community.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses, organizations and individuals who want to show their support for Martin County seniors while receiving valuable recognition surrounding one of the Council on Aging’s signature events.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of Poinsettia Power! Visit the Council on Aging Martin County website to purchase tickets, reserve a table or explore available sponsorship opportunities: www.coamartin.org/poinsettia-power/

Summer got a joyous sendoff at the Kane Center on August 27, as friends and supporters of the Council on Aging Martin County gathered for networking and celebrating the work of COA. 

The event began with the ribbon cutting for the newest Meals on Wheels vehicle and rapidly moved into networking, enjoying signature summer cocktails, and celebrating the work of COA. 

COA Board member Bert Giscombe shared his personal experiences with Council on Aging Martin County. “I will be forever grateful for the care they gave to my beloved mother,” he said. “And they extend this same level of quality and compassion to everyone who needs their help.”  

Tabitha Lavery from Orange Theory, who headed the winning team at the 2026 Pep Rally Gala, took the opportunity to explain why she got involved with COA. “Once I found out how this organization affects our community,” she said, “I put my foot on the gas pedal and went to work.” 

One lucky guest won a spectacular $400 gift card to the luxurious Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa.  

Thanks to our Summer Sendoff Sponsors:

• Treasure Coast Hospice
• The Firefly Group
• iThink Financial
• Water's Edge Health Care. Rehabilitation. Assisted Living
• Caregivers of America
• Aycock Funeral Homes
• Joan Gibbons

A special thank you also goes to the wonderful volunteers from the Treasure Coast Community Singers and COA who gave their time and energy to help make the evening such a success. Their support helped everything come together and made the celebration even more memorable for everyone who attended.

Pictured left to right: Jan Robson, Sharon Savageux, Paula Katchko, Kerry Powell, Marie Rodgers

We meet some of the most interesting people in our Adult Day Club. They come from all walks of life, and each has a unique story to tell.

While our clients may be living with mild to moderate dementia or mobility challenges, they remain individuals with wisdom to share, experiences to draw upon and much to teach us. Each weekday at the Kane Center, they spend time with their peers, participate in engaging activities and specialized therapies, laugh, sing, dance, exercise and strengthen their memory skills - all in a safe, welcoming environment where they are valued, respected and cherished.

One of our clients flew missions in Vietnam in the 1960s and later served as a captain for American Airlines. Another was an attorney who worked in the Nixon White House in the 1970s. Our clients have included a linguistics professor at a major university, a nursing administrator for a major health system, former city and county commissioners from across the country and political spectrum, veterans, entrepreneurs, parents and community leaders.

For each of them, the Adult Day Club is a valuable resource that enhances their quality of life while providing important respite for family members and caregivers.

Our professional staff includes two registered nurses, a Certified Activities Director, Certified Nursing Assistants and skilled recreation aides. They bring extensive knowledge and experience to their work, along with something equally important: compassion and a commitment to providing every client with personal attention.

The Adult Day Club is a joyful place, and families notice right away the difference it makes in their loved one’s life.

If someone you know is living with mild to moderate dementia or mobility challenges, the Adult Day Club may offer a path to greater connection, engagement and fulfillment. Join us for a tour or learn more about the program at www.coamartin.org. 

We are proud to announce that our Memory Care program at the Kane Center was awarded a 2026 Treasure Coast Community Choice Award. This recognition by members of the community is a wonderful reflection of the compassion, dedication, and commitment our team brings to the seniors and families we serve every day. 

The Treasure Coast Community Choice Awards is an annual program that recognizes the best businesses and organizations across the Treasure Coast area. The awards are community-driven, meaning the public nominates and votes for their favorites in over 140 categories. 

We are incredibly grateful to our amazing community, supporters, families, staff, organizations, and companies who stand alongside us and help make a difference.

We are excited to celebrate the success of our recent Target Circle campaign, which raised $1,374.66 in support of our mission!

Target Circle is Target’s free loyalty program that gives shoppers the opportunity to help support nonprofits in their community. As Target Circle members shop, they earn votes that can be cast for participating local organizations. At the end of the campaign, Target distributes charitable funds based on the percentage of votes each organization receives.

Thanks to our incredible community of supporters who shopped, voted, and helped spread the word, our campaign was a wonderful success. The $1,374.66 raised will help us continue providing vital programs and services to seniors in Martin County.

We are grateful to Target, Target Circle, and everyone who cast their votes for us. It’s a great example of how simple actions, when multiplied across a caring community, can make a meaningful difference.

The Council on Aging Martin County helps older adults remain independent, connected, and supported through services that strengthen health, dignity, and quality of life. This work is only possible because of our community of supporters and the power of planning ahead.



If creating or updating your will has been on your to-do list, you’ll be glad to know that COA now offers FreeWill, a complimentary online resource that can help you organize your plans for the future. It allows you to create or update your will at your own pace, name guardians for children or pets, and make a lasting impact on the causes close to your heart. 

You may also choose to include the Council on Aging Martin County in your will with a bequest or other estate gift or name the organization as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy. Your future gift can help provide nutritious meals, caregiver support, wellness programs, reliable transportation and other essential services that help Seniors thrive.

We encourage you to consult your financial planner, attorney, and tax advisor as you think through these decisions. Most of all, we hope this resource is helpful as you plan ahead. 

Visit our website for more information: www.coamartin.org/donate/#planned-giving.

Anyone diagnosed with diabetes knows that constant attention to that “sugar” number is essential, and so is ongoing education and support.

The Cleveland Clinic offers a Diabetes Support Group:

Sugar Busters

Every second Tuesday

2 to 3 p.m.

At the Kane Center

We’re delighted to host their Certified Diabetes Education each month so that participants can connect with others, share experiences, and gain practical tools to improve their well-being.

For more information, call 772-223-5945, ext. 14889.

“I wanted to take a moment to share feedback on your crew, as they truly deserve it. They were professional, considerate, and extremely hard-working throughout the entire process of helping my parents be safer and more secure. Despite my parents being reluctant to part with many items, the team worked patiently and respectfully around them, and still managed to transform the home far beyond what I expected. I cannot thank everyone involved enough. They have significantly improved my parents’ living conditions and overall quality of life.”

- Comment from Caregiver

“My husband Tim looks forward to seeing his friends and the wonderful staff at the Adult Day Club. They have art lessons, brain teasers and puzzles, games, field trips, exercise sessions…he loves it all. The impact is absolutely amazing. The once depressed, lost person is in the past. He is now happy, more alert and outgoing. I thank God every day for the staff and how they gave my husband back to me.” 

- Wife of Adult Day Club Member

“I really appreciate the Meals on Wheels program. COA is really upping their game with the meal choices. Even fish!”

- Recipient of Meals on Wheels Services

Our Kane Center on Salerno Road is a bustling hub of activity every day, from exercise classes and book clubs to game days and special events. There’s always something to look forward to. 

Here is one event you won’t want to miss: 

The generous contributions you make to the Council on Aging Martin County directly support our Mission. When you make a gift to benefit our programs, you help seniors reduce loneliness, anxiety and depression. By supporting our work you help build a sense of purpose and social connection for our community's seniors.

You can make a gift today or plan for the future. Please contact Michele Leigh Jacobs, Chief Philanthropic Officer, to discuss opportunities that best suit you, your philanthropic priorities and your passion for our senior community.

Email: mjacobs@coamartin.org

Direct: 772.223.7803

Secured Online Giving: www.coamartin.org