The M.O.T. Senior Center is a non-profit, non-residential community center located in the heart of Middletown, Delaware. 

 

The Middletown-Odessa-Townsend Senior Center, Inc was founded in July 1967.  Mr. James Mullen, Mayor of Middletown, and Miriam Fillingame knew the need for a senior center in the large rural area and moved forward with Dr. Hector J. Lemaire of the Bureau of Aging to make that dream a reality. Initial funds were obtained from the Bureau of Aging, State and Federal sources.  The local Jaycees offered a part of their building on South Scott Street as the first location for the Center. With that, the M.O.T. Senior Center opened its door to 152 members in July of 1967.

 

As the only senior center in lower New Castle County – the service area was from the Kent County line to the Canal, and from the Maryland line to the Delaware River/Bay. 

 

The nutrition program started as a covered dish luncheon and eventually became self-supporting with donations.

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In 1971, the State Division of Housing approached the center with plans for a 24 unit senior housing project (Holly Square) with a community building which became the home of the M.O.T Senior Center in 1972. United Way and the Division of Aging added their support in 1974.

 

The need for senior transportation was apparent.  In 1976 Senator Donald Issacs helped the Center obtain funding through the State for our first bus.  In 1983 we got a minibus and a medical van.  And our fleet has continued to grow.

 

In 1990 Mr. Harry A. & Laura Schragrin donated 6.9 acres of land to the Center.  On September 19 of that year, Thelma Levinson (their daughter) signed over the parcel which provided the space the center sits on today. The original 9,000 square foot building of Victorian design, had its groundbreaking on July 11, 1993, and its doors on June 15, 1996.  The Center was expanded and went through its latest renovations in May of 2007.

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Our current membership is over 1100 and we serve over 1500 seniors yearly.