Gracie’s Kitchen

By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
May 10, 2019 10:30 a.m.

Meet Maryellen Crocker. Many readers may already know her personally but if not, they have no doubt heard the name and word of the great work she does.

Perhaps more familiar is the name Gracie’s Kitchen –a moniker which identifies a well-known organization in Yulee dedicated entirely to feeding the hungry in Nassau County.

Gracie’s Kitchen is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization– and clients come from practically all walks of life. Veterans, the unemployed, the underemployed, singles and families alike. Some homeless, and the working poor. It serves a very diverse group of diners. Maryellen goes on to explain, “everyone who comes to Gracie’s Kitchen receives a meal and no questions are asked or information needs to be shown.”

The feel is friendly, convivial. It is a regular meeting spot for many. Familiar faces are recognized and pleasantries exchanged. Some guests sit and around and visit long after their meals have been consumed. Maryellen and her team come out of the back kitchen to say “hello” to many of the longtime customers.

The menu is posted on the large blackboard and kids waiting for dinner are free to pick up some chalk and entertain themselves until dinner is served or their take-out orders ready.

Gracie’s Kitchen is able to distribute 50 bags of grocery twice a month on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is also and a small food pantry -thanks to a grant received from Feeding Northeast Florida,

In addition, explains Maryellen, “Besides serving dinner, we have a Pet Corner where folks can get pet food for their dogs and cats. We provide food for 55 dogs and 45 cats and receive donations that are specific to the pets. We also have two therapy dogs that come in twice a month and our folks really like that.”

The Pet Corner was founded and is run by Pat and Gary Janco a couple that started out as servers but found that people were saving food from their dinners for their pets. Folks have told the Janco’s that because of the help they get with the care of their pets, they are able to purchase things that they need for themselves — like glasses and medication.”

Gracie’s Kitchen operates under the umbrella organization known as the Homeless Coalition for Nassau County. Their mission is simple: “to prevent and eliminate homelessness in Nassau County and to coordinate with other organizations to help persons experiencing homelessness receive the services they need.” And perhaps that number one need is food.

Maryellen came to the area from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2007 and has been here fulltime about ten years. When she first arrived, one of the first activities she became involved with was serving dinner at the Hope House in Fernandina Beach through the Interfaith Dinner Network.

It was during a team leader meeting at Hope House that Maryellen met one Ms. Grace Preache. Ms. Grace Preache mentioned she wanted to start something similar to the Hope House in the Yulee community where she lived.

Maryellen said she would help and over the course of about 18 months, the two met with countless church leaders in and around the area — “to pitch the idea.”

Through “a friend of a friend of a friend,” as the old saying goes, they learned the abandoned Yulee Middle School, located off Page’s Diary Road, might be available. With the blessing of the school board of Nassau County, they acquired the building, clean-up began and shortly thereafter, so did their work.

As Maryellen recalls, “[we] opened for our first dinner in September 2010 serving 7 folks. Today we serve anywhere from 250 to 350 dinners per night. Last year we served over 37,000 meals. “

At 83, Miss Gracie now resides in an assisted living facility in Nassau County yet her vision continues to serve as an inspiration to many. It is Maryellen Crocker and Eileen Shrubsall who manage the day to day operations. They, along with a very tight team of other dedicated volunteers are there on a daily basis and organizations throughout the community are there to help as well.

Currently there are 17 teams that cook and serve dinners – made up local churches and other groups like the Girl Scouts, Yulee High School, the Greater Nassau Rotary Club and other individuals” In addition, Maryellen continues, “we have a number of folks who volunteer if they are in need of community service hours like Bright Future High School students and kids from other the local schools.”

“We are USDA approved and receive meat, vegetables and dry goods from Farm Share. We do all our shopping at Feeding Northeast Florida where I am able to purchase meat at a very reduced price and receive free dairy, fresh vegetable and bakery items. We also receive end of the day bread and baked goods from Panera Bread twice a week along with food from yearly food drives such as the Amelia Island Tennis Tournament and Faith Christian Academy, explains Ms. Crocker.

The kitchen is fully equipped with 3 refrigerators, one catering refrigerator, 9 freezers and 2 food warmers that have been procured thru grants or donations – on an annual budget of about $9,000.

Lots of diners at Gracie’s Kitchen arrive by bicycle or walk and the majority of dinners are prepared “to go” so patrons can pick up the evening meal and take it home to eat. The dining room itself can only seat 50. As a result and truth be told, the biggest expense by far, is the cost of take-out containers.

What more could they do? What more do they want to do? “Open a homeless shelter,” says Ms. Crocker.

To make a donation to Gracie’s Kitchen, donations can be sent to the Coalition for the Homeless of Nassau County, PO Box 16123, Fernandina Beach FL 32035 and marked for “Gracie’s Kitchen.”

Editor’s Note: Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Cindy received her BA in Political Science from Dickinson College. Upon graduation, Cindy began her career on Capitol Hill working as a legislative aide and director. She later became a part of the public relations and lobbying team of the American Iron and Steel Institute and served as director of the office of state legislative affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Cindy was involved in economic development with the state of Maryland, and served as executive director of Leadership Washington County. As a community volunteer, Cindy participates in numerous volunteer activities serving as a member of Sunrise Rotary, and as board member of Cummer Amelia Board of Directors.