ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — One woman is leading a nonprofit organization helping a growing number of families, including many women, across Pinellas County.
What You Need To Know
Jennifer Yeagley is the CEO of the St. Pete Free Clinic
The clinic expanded services significantly under her watch since March 2020
They provide food, health care, and housing support to families in need
Jennifer Yeagley serves as CEO of the St. Pete Free Clinic, a nonprofit that provides food assistance, health care and housing support for people in need.
Yeagley stepped into the role in March 2020 — just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. In the years since, the organization has more than tripled the number of people it serves.
Inside the clinic’s food bank warehouse in St. Petersburg, staff and volunteers sort, pack and distribute food that will soon make its way to families across the community.
Yeagley says seeing the need firsthand keeps her grounded in the mission.
“When I go visit our downtown pantry and get to, you know, interact with folks that are visiting us or talk to our volunteers or certainly look at our statistics at the end of every month, it’s overwhelming how much there is and truly just humbling,” Yeagley said.
During the pandemic, demand for food assistance surged dramatically.
At one point, the organization was serving about 20,000 visitors every month.
“And we saw need triple overnight just because of the pandemic,” Yeagley said.
Even after the height of the pandemic passed, Yeagley says many families are still struggling with rising costs.
“More people began to rely on us, and of course, after the pandemic, as we saw inflation and economic pressure continuing to squeeze families,” she said.
The clinic works with about 30 local grocery stores to help supply its food programs, salvaging food that may be close to expiration but is still safe to eat.
That food is then distributed through several programs, including a community food bank, a fresh food pantry and a drive-through pantry.
Beyond food support, the organization also operates a health clinic that provides primary and dental care. It also owns two residential housing sites that are operated by Metropolitan Ministries.
Yeagley says many of the people the clinic serves fall into a group known as “ALICE,” meaning they are working but still struggle to afford basic necessities.
After more than 25 years working in nonprofit human services, Yeagley says helping connect people with support remains her motivation.
“To be sure that everybody knows that there is no shame in needing help,” she said. “And we are there to meet women and families and whoever needs our help where they are.”