Jacksonville nonprofit helps feed and ‘bless’ health care workers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Delivering donated meals to front-line workers of the coronavirus pandemic is helping keep some Jacksonville-area restaurants in business.

The nonprofit Blessing Others All The Time said it is using takeout and delivery services from local restaurants to help feed first responders

The idea is simple: donate to Blessing Others All The Time which will then order food from a registered restaurant and workers from the nonprofit will deliver meals to front-line workers.

“I am blessed to do this because I’m not in a bad situation like most businesses,” said volunteer and organizer Jade Stanley.

Stanley and volunteers are helping keep local restaurants in business.

“We have assisted seven restaurants. We fed over 350 meals to the hospital staff workers in the last week,” Stanley said.

With donations pouring in, things are busy.

“I started giving back to our community and working in the nonprofit world because my mother and I was homeless when I was in middle school,” Stanley said.

Now she wants to spend her time helping feed hundreds more next month.

“What touched my heart the most is being able to see the nurses appreciate the lower income staff of the hospital. Just seeing the nurses say, ‘Please give food and boost morale for the people who are left cleaning up behind this virus when they are at risk, as well,’” Stanley said.

So far, the nonprofit has handed out meals to workers at Baptist Health, Flagler Hospital, two COVID-19 testing sites and Mayo Clinic. Their goal is to reach six hospitals in four counties.

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