Written and produced by Jessica Barreto

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. - 1,700 meals a week are prepared for seniors at the Clayton and Mildred Revels Senior Center in Green Cove Springs.

Frequent visitor Lamar Smith says he found out through a friend that these meals were available to him for free.

“Someone informed me, ‘Hey, come to the scene and play some pool and eat lunch,’” Smith recalled. “I say, ‘Really? There is a place such as that?’ [And] he said, ‘Yeah, sure!’ And I've been coming ever since 2016,” he noted. “Anything that I want something to drink or eat, [the staff will] give it to you. They offer it to you,” Smith added.

“We provide low sodium, healthy meals for seniors,” described Sam Hall, Chief Operating Officer at Aging True Community Senior Services, a non-profit organization providing essential services and care for individuals, families and communities throughout Northeast Florida to prepare for and support graceful aging.

“Some of [the seniors] may not want to cook,” Hall explained. “Some of them may not have the means or the capacity to cook. And this affords them that.”

Before 2023, cooking large quantities of meals at the Clayton and Mildred Revels Senior Center wasn’t possible. Aging True had to have food delivered from more than 20 miles away.

“So, all of our drivers and all of our operations were in Jacksonville,” said Chuck Bullock, Director of Nutrition Programs at Aging True.

But the Clay County Board of County Commissioners helped fund a $725,000 renovation project which provided:

• A commercial convection oven
• Two commercial cooking kettles
• Commercial sinks and dishwasher
• A walk-in freezer
• Upgraded food preparation surfaces
• A new serving window

The upgrades were unveiled in February and now, the meals cooked at the Clayton and Mildred Revels Senior Center go to all four senior centers in Clay County.

“The county actually owns the buildings and they assist us with any needs that we will have as far as maintenance to ensure that the buildings are in top working order,” Hall underscored. “So, the partnership with the county has been tremendous.”

“It makes for quicker service to not only the senior centers but to our home-delivered meal clients,” Bullock also pointed out.

By providing freshly cooked meals, the senior center also encourages a sense of community.

“So, how often do you come here?” we asked Smith. “Every day,” he instantly replied with a smile. “Every single day,” he emphasized. “Every single day. I love it.”