By james art 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – There’s a beacon of faith, love and compassion in south Tallahassee, offering a helping hand to anyone in need.
The Chapel Outreach Foundation is a labor of love created for the community by the members of Jacob Chapel Baptist Church.
The Foundation provides critical services and meets the needs of the most vulnerable. Keyera Wright is a church member and hairdresser in Tallahassee. She is also a mother who lives in low-income housing.
“It makes no one ashamed. You don’t have to be ashamed to get the help you need,” she said.
For people living in the Bond, Frenchtown and Callen neighborhoods, Jacob Chapel Baptist Church is known as the little church with a big heart. Melinda Harris is the Church Coordinator.
In 2024, the church launched its nonprofit, the Chapel Outreach Foundation, to continue its mission. Harris said the foundation focuses on helping low-income communities, the poor, children and the elderly.
“We have a clothing closet, a food pantry and a back-to-school initiative,” she said.
Each resource and initiative serves a critical and growing need in the community. Keyera Wright said the foundation’s food pantry has been a big help when it comes to feeding her family.
“Because the cost of food has gone up so high now, it’s getting to a point where we single moms have to count on food stamps. So sometimes when we run out throughout the month, that’s where the food pantry comes in,” Wright said.
The foundation’s president, Irish Porter, said the resources the nonprofit offers go a long way in keeping many people in the community out of shelters.
“A lot of people can’t afford to go to Goodwill or any thrift stores, so if you don’t have money, you can come here and be dressed for free,” Porter said.
Harris said the organization now needs to expand as the need for help grows.
“In the south, people are hungry. You cannot understand the word of Jesus if your stomach is growling,” she said.
From the elderly who receive two hot meals every Saturday, to the over 300 book bags provided to students at Pineview Elementary School, and so many other important resources, there is a small church with a big heart that provides hope and healing for all community.
To keep up with all the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook and X (Twitter).
Got a news tip or see a bug that needs fixing? Write us here. Please include the title of the article in your message.
Keep up with the biggest headlines in the WCTV News app. Click here to download it now.
Copyright 2024 WCTV. All rights reserved.