ORANGE PARK – Anita Aultman went about her chores on Aug. 29 like every other day at the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry. She talked with volunteers and helped stock the food pantry. There were clothes to sort and needy residents to comfort.
But she knew something was coming.
“It was hard for me to keep my mouth shut,” she said with a giggle.
A trio said they visited the nonprofit on Fromhart Street to meet one of Aultman’s friends. In reality, it was a set-up.
THE PLAYERS Executive Director Lee Smith, PGA Tour’s Senior Director of Community Outreach Emily Bellock and Community Relations Director Marjorie Dennis unexpectedly made their intentions clear when they said they would push a fundraiser to replace a refrigerated van across the finish line.
“They said they wanted to see Jamie, and I said Jamie doesn’t actually know these people,” Aultman said. “I asked them to introduce themselves. You should have seen the shock on everyone’s faces.”
THE PLAYERS and the PGA Tour presented the Clothes Closet a check for $15,000. The group needed $10,000 to meet their $100,000 goal for the van, and the charitable group took it a step further with an additional $5,000 to stock the shelves with food for another month.
The idea started when Bellock read an Aug. 14 story about the Clothes Closet’s campaign to keep a significant portion of its food distribution operational. A patchwork of repairs was holding together their 12-year-old refrigerated van. A new one was needed because stores like Publix and Walmart require a refrigerated van to transport meat, eggs, milk and produce. It took four months to collect the initial $90,000, and with the help of THE PLAYERS, the Clothes Closet placed its order for a new van last week. It’s expected to be delivered later this month or early in October.
The newsletter, Jax Today, features stories from area news outlets. It’s created and delivered through email by WJCT, the public broadcasting station based in Jacksonville. Much of the information apparently was gleaned from stories reported by Clay Today, Aultman said.
According to a Tour spokesperson, Bellock told Smith they needed to donate the money. “He was on board,” a Tour representative said. “He said, ‘We can do this.’”
THE PLAYERS reached out to WJCT and got Aultman’s contact. Fifteen days later, they delivered the money – and hope to people who desperately needed help.
The volunteers moved Smith, so he decided to kick in an additional $5,000.
The Tour said THE PLAYERS hired Smith last May, and he’s new to Northeast Florida.
“From an outsider’s perspective, he was just so blown away by the incredible stuff they’re doing out there,” the spokesperson said.
Work to help Clay County residents in crisis is never done. The pantry assists those needing food, clothing, household items, furniture, baby equipment, homeless supplies and mobility aids. The refrigerated van will help that cause.
Now that the charity will keep its wheels rolling, there’s a new need for the group.
“Now we have to raise money to build a garage for it,” Aultman said.
