PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A Pasco County nonprofit committed to preserving quality of life for area seniors is collecting donations to help elderly residents with basic needs as they shelter in place to protect themselves from coronavirus.

In the time of crisis, we’ve seen so many people ask not what you can do for them, but what they can do for you.

“I know that people are in need and it’s not safe for them to come out,” said Ann Marie Elgon.

Elgon, a nurse, says since seniors are the most vulnerable population when it comes to coronavirus, she wanted to do her part to make sure they are taken care of.

“I don’t want them to go out into the stores and catch Covid trying to find this stuff. I’d much rather get it myself and donate it to them if I could,” she said.

In order to meet the need she knew was out there, she brought her donation to Community Aging and Retirement Services, also known as CARES.

We spoke to CARES president and CEO Jemith Rosa, who said the impact of such donations is tremendous.

Rosa explained all donations, from cleaning supplies to personal hygiene items to food, will help more than 600 seniors in the area who might otherwise go without.

She added it’s especially important to help them now and help from the public is always appreciated.

“The seniors are everything that we have. The seniors took care of us during the great depression, during so many wars. We owe it to them,” said Rosa.

If you would like to make a donation, you can drop it off at any CARES location in Pasco County.