Today we’d like to introduce you to Liba Andrusier.
Hi Liba , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sunshine Circle really began from the heart. I started noticing how many seniors in our community were quietly struggling – not only with access to food, but with deep loneliness and a lack of consistent support. I couldn’t ignore it. What began as helping just a few seniors quickly grew as more referrals came in, and the need became so clear.
In the beginning, it was very grassroots. I was coordinating volunteers, delivering meals, and checking in on seniors one by one. But very quickly, I saw that the real impact wasn’t just the food, it was the human connection. Seniors were waiting for the knock on the door. They wanted to feel remembered and cared about.
Over time, Sunshine Circle grew into a structured, volunteer-driven program. Today, we serve over 350 seniors across Broward County with the help of approximately 280 volunteers. We provide weekly meal deliveries, in-home friendly visits, holiday support, and ongoing help connecting seniors to the resources they need so they can remain safe, nourished, and connected at home.
What continues to drive me is the belief that no senior should ever feel forgotten. Sunshine Circle is really about neighbors showing up for one another – and we’re continuing to grow thoughtfully so we can meet the increasing need in our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. Like many grassroots efforts, we started small and were responding in real time to growing needs, which meant building systems while already in motion. One of the biggest challenges has been keeping up with the demand. The need among seniors is significant, and there are always more people who could benefit from support.
Volunteer coordination has also been an ongoing focus – making sure we have enough trained, reliable volunteers and that they feel supported in the work they’re doing. At the same time, rising food and operational costs have required us to be very thoughtful and strategic about funding and sustainability.
That said, every challenge has helped us grow stronger and more intentional. We’ve built better systems, stronger partnerships, and a more sustainable structure than we had in the early days. The need continues to drive us forward, and seeing the real impact on seniors’ lives makes every hurdle worth navigating.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Sunshine Circle, our work focuses on supporting isolated and homebound seniors in very practical but deeply human ways. We provide weekly hand-delivered meals, in-home friendly visits, holiday support, and ongoing help connecting seniors to the resources they need to remain safe and independent at home. What we really specialize in is combining reliable food support with genuine human connection – not just dropping off a meal, but building real relationships.
I would say we are known for being very hands-on and responsive. Many of our seniors come to us through word of mouth or referrals because people know we will really show up and follow through. Our volunteers are not just delivering food – they are forming meaningful bonds with the seniors they visit, and that has a tremendous impact.
What I am most proud of is the community that has grown around this work. We now have about 280 volunteers supporting more than 350 seniors across Broward County, and that didn’t happen overnight. It grew because people truly care and want to be part of something that makes a real difference.
What sets Sunshine Circle apart is our relationship-driven model. We focus not only on meeting basic needs, but on reducing loneliness and restoring dignity. Many seniors tell us the visit means as much as the meal, and to me, that really captures the heart of what makes this work so meaningful.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing a senior light up when someone shows up at their door – not just with a meal, but with real care and attention. There’s something incredibly powerful about knowing that a small act of consistency can make someone feel remembered and valued.
I’m especially moved when I hear seniors say they look forward to their volunteer’s visit each week. It reminds me that this work is about so much more than food – it’s about connection, dignity, and community. Seeing volunteers step up with such heart, and watching relationships form across generations, is deeply fulfilling.
At the end of the day, what makes me happiest is knowing that fewer seniors in our community feel alone because Sunshine Circle exists. That impact is what keeps me going.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sunshinecirclefl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinecirclefl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunshinecirclefl
Image Credits
Sunshine Circle
