The St. Pete Free Clinic is actively increasing its services in a time of need.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CEO Jennifer Yeagley, her team and local partners came together Wednesday at the organization\u2019s food bank and administrative facility for an open house event. The gathering was held to celebrate the nonprofit\u2019s expansion and the opening of the building, which has been in use since January.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe holidays are often a time for celebration, gratitude and reflection,\u201d said SPFC board chair Ben Diamond at the event. \u201cIt\u2019s also a time that invites us to think about our neighbors, who have needs and are facing hardships and uncertainty. It\u2019s a reminder that our community comes together to not just talk about issues, but to take action.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He offered some statistics to show the organization\u2019s impact. In 2024, SPFC provided over $45 million dollars in grocery savings for Pinellas families and individuals. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis expansion couldn\u2019t have come at a more important time. We know that food insecurity is only increasing,\u201d Yeagley told the Catalyst. \u201cOur board has made the strategic decision to help all of our food insecure neighbors in Pinellas County. That\u2019s about 260,000 people. We do not want to serve them just one time, but make sure that they have regular access to nutritious food.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The organization also provides healthcare services to local individuals in need.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yeagley, who joined the SPFC team in March 2020, added that the Covid-19 pandemic \u201cexacerbated\u201d food insecurity in the Pinellas County community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know any time something this significant happens, the need is probably not going to return to normal for a very long time,\u201d she said. \u201cThat has proven to be true, but we anticipated that and knew that we were going to outgrow our current food banking capacity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
To exemplify, she explained that the organization distributed 15 million pounds of food throughout Pinellas County in 2020, in comparison to 11 million pounds in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This increase encouraged Yeagley and her team to expand to a larger facility. The nonprofit would acquire the 36,000-square-foot building, at 2392 31st Street South, in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The project required \u201csignificant renovations,\u201d she added. SPFC was able to apply for an American Rescue Plan Act Nonprofit Capital Project Fund grant from Pinellas County in partnership with the Pinellas Community Foundation. The Board of County Commissioners voted to fully fund the $3 million venture in June 2023. Yeagley and her team completed the buildout process throughout 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis investment strengthens the infrastructure that serves our communities throughout Pinellas County,\u201d said Pinellas Community Foundation CEO Duggan Cooley at the Wednesday event. \u201cThat broad geographic reach was one of those things that was important as to why this project mattered.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yeagley explained that SPFC is currently working on new partnerships and property acquisitions in \u201chigh need locations\u201d to ensure Pinellas residents have access to food and healthcare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to bring partners into these locations so that the holistic needs of families are met in an easy way,\u201d she said. \u201cWe can start to help them move toward even greater self-sufficiency.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
SPFC acquired a building, at 2200 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South, in June. The former Badcock Home Furniture & More location will be used to expand the nonprofit\u2019s services. Yeagley said that the organization plans to break ground in the spring and hopes the facility is open by the end of 2026 or early 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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