What is FISCO?

The Friends of Indian Senior Citizen’s Organization (FISCO) is a social work agency supporting Asian Indian senior citizens residing in towns in the northwestern part of the Boston Metro Region. The organization has four main programs with the mission to reduce isolation among seniors. Their programs and activities consist of frequent social interactions and gatherings, education for the maintenance of good mental and physical health, a signature hot meal served each week on Wednesday at the Burlington Senior Center, and a Desi-Meals-On-Wheels program with food delivered to the homes of seniors in surrounding towns.

Vision

Our vision is to see an enlightened society where all seniors feel secure, are respected, and live healthy lives supported by family and friends.

Mission

FISCO’s mission is to provide companionship, connection and compassion to senior Asian immigrants so that they can maintain good physical and mental health. We work together and strive to create a friendly and loving atmosphere for seniors with a deep understanding of the challenges they face.

The History of FISCO

In the summer of 2010, Rita Shah, a social worker in Burlington, Massachusetts, realized that her parents-in-law and older family members, immigrants from India, were very lonely and isolated from their community. Winters were particularly hard for them. She organized a group of seniors to meet often, share a meal and care and cultivate friendships. The time was right; Rita met passionate community leaders like Mahendra Jhaveri, Ramesh Naidu, Dinesh Shah, and Suryakant Gandhi, and together, they joined to create a new social work organization called Friends of Indian Senior Citizen’s Organization (FISCO) in Burlington, Massachusetts. Their goal was, and remains, to assist older Asian Indians to meet socially, increase interactions and reduce their isolation. With the help of generous donors, community volunteers, the Councils of Aging in several towns, and Minuteman Senior Services, they created FISCO, a registered 501 © 3 nonprofit organization in the state of Massachusetts, USA.