This year marked the 28th consecutive year Aging True has partnered with Ascension St. Vincent’s and other volunteer groups to deliver meals to seniors on Thanksgiving. The health system prepared 400 warm Thanksgiving meals (330 meals in Duval County, and 70 meals in Clay County) utilizing:
- 2,000 lbs. of turkey
- 265 lbs. of green beans
- 400 lbs. of potatoes
- 430 lbs. of cornmeal for dressing
- 160 lbs. of fresh cranberries
- 140 fresh baked pies
In Jacksonville, Ascension St. Vincent’s partners with zTrip and other local organizations to load the meals into taxis and distribute them to families. In Clay County, the health system also partners with community organizations including the Green Cove Springs Police Department, Orange Park Police Department, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
“The last 20 months have been difficult for us all, but our commitment to caring for our community in every way possible remains steadfast,” said Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast President and CEO Tom VanOsdol. “Without our collaborative efforts, hundreds of our neighbors might otherwise go without a warm Thanksgiving meal. We are incredibly grateful to our community partners and volunteers for preparing and delivering the meals to local families in need.”
The health system continued to ensure all appropriate COVID-19 precautions were taken, including wearing personal protective equipment when preparing the meals, screenings and universal masking.
“This partnership between Ascension St. Vincent’s, ZTrip, and the various other volunteer groups involved has allowed us to provide home-bound seniors with not only a meal, but the warmth and kindness displayed by our entire community,” said Aging True Community Senior Services CEO Teresa K. Barton. “As we continue to adapt to the landscape brought on by the pandemic, partnerships like this become even more vital to ensuring we provide our seniors with the care and assistance they need.”
