JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ascension St. Vincent’s associates and volunteers gathered on Thanksgiving to prepare and deliver more than 1,000 warm meals to local seniors in need.
This marks the 32nd year that Ascension St. Vincent has held this meal distribution, “Meals on Wheels,” for families in need in Duval and Clay County.
“Our mission extends beyond the work we do inside the walls of our hospital,” said Scott Kashman, President & CEO of St. Vincent’s Riverside. “We are committed to taking care of our patients and communities with special attention to the poor and vulnerable. This collaboration ensures hundreds of seniors receive a hot Thanksgiving meal that they otherwise may not be able to have.”
News4JAX got a behind-the-scenes look on Wednesday and got the chance to see the food being prepared.
We spoke with the chef, who let us know what is on the menu and who is being served.
“We are feeding a thousand people on Meals on Wheels, we are also feeding all of the associates, which is another thousand. So we prepared the turkeys we started at the end of last week. Right now, we have cooked about 700 pounds of turkey, about 580 pounds of potatoes, about 300 pounds of green beans, and 200 pounds of cranberries,” Executive Chef Scott Bennett said.
News4JAX also went to St. Vincent’s Riverside to talk to volunteers on Thanksgiving as they were preparing the hot meals.
Willie Roberts was among the volunteers. She said she has been participating in this event for 14 years.
“I am so thankful as well as my family. So giving back to the community is pretty much who I am,” Roberts said. So being in the community, knowing the needs and the struggles, a lot of families and individual has. So just getting up early and coming and helping prepare the food for those less fortunate is just a true blessing for me.”
Stanley Joseph is also a repeat volunteer.
“Having the opportunity to come here and put this together. It makes it makes my day already like a great day,” Joseph said.
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