By Tracy McCormick-Dishman
The Barnabas Center recently held a focus group at Callahan Methodist Church Fellowship Hall to gather input from West Nassau residents as the organization prepares to expand health and empowerment services in western Nassau County.
Close to 40 people attended the working lunch, which sought community feedback on plans to renovate a 2,000-square-foot health services clinic for the uninsured and expand programs designed to help West Nassau residents.
“We don’t want to come in saying this is what your community needs,” said Jamie Reynolds, Barnabas Center president and CEO. “It’s really for us to have the opportunity to listen and to be able to partner with the community to really be effective.”
Reynolds said the organization was thrilled with both the turnout and the information gained from the session.
“We learned and learned and learned,” Reynolds said. “There were many tremendous suggestions that came out of it. Some we can implement now, which again was really pretty cool that we could say this is a great action item that we can get started with now.”
The organization has historically operated in West Nassau from small spaces ranging from 600 square feet to pre-K classrooms, with local churches in Callahan serving as gracious hosts. The new dedicated space will allow Barnabas to establish a permanent home base in Callahan.
Reynolds said the expansion addresses a key barrier to accessing care: transportation. By establishing a clinic in Callahan, residents won’t need to travel to Fernandina Beach for services.
One immediate action item from the focus group involves expanding the organization’s meal pack program. Barnabas currently provides meal packs for elementary-age students and is now exploring partnerships with Hilliard middle and high schools.
“We want to create a system and a process that children are able to potentially go pick up a bag of peanut butter and other sustainable proteins and to be able to bring home quietly,” Reynolds said, noting dignity is a core value of the organization.
Barnabas serves individuals at up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline, meaning a single person making close to $46,000 annually can still qualify for services. Reynolds said this makes the organization a potential solution for small businesses that may not offer employee benefits, particularly for part-time workers.
The renovation timeline for Barnabas Center West, 542738 US 1, Callahan, is ambitious. Reynolds said May is a realistic target for opening, though March would be ideal. The organization is currently finalizing architectural designs for the space.
Meanwhile, Barnabas continues to expand its Seeds of Hope garden program. Last spring, the organization distributed more than 400 grow bags—miniature gardens with seedlings and instructions—at food distributions. The program will continue this fall at the new West Nassau site.
“People not only get fresh vegetables, but they can learn how to grow them,” Reynolds said.
Nicola Barnack, director of development and communications, said the Seeds of Hope garden at the Fernandina Beach location has expanded significantly with support from the Florida Blue Foundation and generous donors. The garden now runs the full length of the building and includes a greenhouse for growing seedlings.
“It inspired me and now I have a container garden of my own,” Barnack said. “Anyone can do it.”
The expansion comes as demand for services increases. Reynolds said food distribution is up 35 percent and rent and mortgage stabilization assistance is up 25 percent, even before recent federal government disruptions.
“We are so beautifully supported by this community,” Reynolds said. “If we put the call out, we have an incredible response to neighbors helping neighbors.”
Barnabas Center’s mission is to provide help and hope to individuals and families in need throughout Nassau County, improving their stability, health and well-being. Regular food bank hours are 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Friday at the Jasmine Street location in Fernandina Beach. More information is available at BarnabasNassau.org. The organization’s annual Empty Bowls luncheon will be held Nov. 25 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
tdishman@nassaunewsline.net
