ORANGE PARK – Amy Houston heard four words that changed her nonprofit’s direction – and the likely outlooks of hundreds of people who face desperate situations – on Tuesday morning.

“Clay County Rescue Mission.”

Those four words followed the introduction of the “Paul E. Reinhold Community Service Award of the Year” recipient during the annual Celebrate Clay Breakfast at the Thrasher-Horne Center.

Those four words mean the CEO’s faith-based mission received $15,000 as the nonprofit of the year and will be able to expand and support those who face challenges with housing and paying essential expenses.

Those four words also mean she needed to change her voicemail message that previously restricted financial requests to veterans.

“I was beyond shocked,” Houston said. “I think I made a few people in the room cry because I was crying so hard. I was so amazed. This is important: I really do give all the glory to God.”

According to Klare Bryan, Houston’s modest mission has become a guiding light, offering hope and essential resources for those who fall between the cracks for hundreds in the county who don’t qualify for conventional assistance programs.

“The mission we celebrate today embodies this truth and illuminates paths for those who might otherwise be left in the dark,” Bryan said.

The more Bryan talked, the more Houston allowed herself to believe Clay County Rescue Mission may be the winner.

Bryan then told the story of a single mother with three children who lost her home in a hurricane that moved to Clay County, and with the help of Houston’s Rescue Mission, she found a job and arranged for transportation for her children to get to school within a week.

That’s when Houston knew for sure.

“You have no idea how it helps so much,” she said. “We operate solely off donations from people in the community, local churches, and a few grants. We don't receive any state funding. Now the calls – seriously, today the calls have not stopped. People are reaching out. People are helping. This opened the door. This will fund us for the next six months.”

Bryan said Rescue Mission helped more than 350 residents and protected almost 100 from experiencing homelessness by providing basic needs and services like emergency food, clothing, housing and transportation while tackling the root causes of homelessness.

The mission and its volunteers also helped 50 residents find “meaningful” employment opportunities with major employers by hosting its first Job Fair.

The Paul E. & Klare N. Reinhold Foundation, Inc., distributed $107,000 and 48 community service awards to nonprofit organizations that provide services to Clay County residents on Tuesday. Since starting Celebrate Clay in 2009, the Reinhold Foundation has paid $1.36 million to county nonprofits.

In addition, the Reinhold Foundation celebrated “The Jack Myers Executive Director of the Year Award” by honoring two recently retired nonprofit CEOs for their combined decades of service that have transformed Clay County. Sandra Staudt-Killea, retired CEO of Waste Not Want Not, and Don Fann, retired CEO of The Way Free Medical Clinic, were each presented “The Jack Myers Executive Director of the Year Award.” Waste Not Want Not and The Way Free Medical Clinic received $7,000 each in honor of these recognitions.

Peggy Bryan, granddaughter of Paul and Klare Reinhold, said Sandra and Don “have touched tens of thousands of lives and reshaped how we address critical community needs. Both leave a legacy that will serve Clay County for generations to come.”

The Reinhold Foundation’s “Celebrate Clay” awards program honors the legacy of Paul and Klare Reinhold and recognizes, rewards and encourages community service within Clay County.

A panel of five judges, comprising three independent community volunteers and two representatives from the Reinhold family, voted on the best projects of 2024 to determine the winners of the $107,000 in cash awards. This year’s judges were Mike Cella, former District 1 Clay County Commissioner; Ed Hubel, FACHE, Hospital President, Baptist Medical Center Clay; Pastor Carey Morford, Executive Director, Mission of the Dirt Road; and Bryan and Kristin Egan, Reinhold family members.

Applications were open to all non-profit groups active in the First Coast Area that provided services to Clay County residents in 2024. The 48 award recipients included Clay County and regionally based nonprofits, churches and school programs.

The grant programs of The Paul E. & Klare N. Reinhold Foundation, Inc. support philanthropic and charitable organizations that work to improve the quality of life for Clay County residents.

Other winners were:

Paul E. Reinhold Community Service Award ($15,000) – Clay County Rescue Mission

Judges' Choice Program Awards ($7,000 each) – Clay County Education Foundation, Saved 2 Serve

Jack Myers Executive Director Award ($7,000) – Sandra Staudt-Killea, Waste Not Want Not, Don Fann, The Way Free Medical Clinic

Peggy Bryan Volunteer of the Year Award ($7,000) – Julius Johnson, The Kitchen of Clay County

Judges' Choice Volunteer Awards ($3,500 each) – Guillermo Mendez, Operation Lifeline, Mary Medford, Challenge Enterprises’ “Food for Clay County”

Special Judges' Awards ($2,000 each) – AMIkids Clay, Clay Behavioral Health Center, Clay County 4-H Association, Emmanuel Project of NE FL, Food Bridge - Black Creek Methodist Church, James Boys – Orange Park Methodist Church, OP Outfitters - Orange Park High, Pace Center for Girls, Clay, Quigley House, Vineyard Transitional Center

Category Awards ($1,000 each):

Arts & Culture – Clamour Theatre Company, The Island Theater

Civic Programs – Clay County Archives, Clay County Historical Society

Community Programs – The Clothes Closet & Food Pantry, Dignity Impact Outreach, Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs, Hope 4 Veterans, Hunger Fight, McRae Elementary Weekend Food, Mercy Support Services, Miriam's Basket, Operation Barnabas, Seeds of Love Outreach

Education & Literacy – Project REACH Kids - Clay Schools

Environment & Animal Advocacy – Clay County Humane Society

Health & Human Services – The Fire Watch Project, Vision is Priceless

Senior Citizens' Programs – PET FL - Penney Farms, Shepherd's Center of Orange Park

Church Service Programs – Celebration Church Food Pantry, Sacred Heart Catholic Outreach

Accomplishments by Youth – Clay County Sheriff's Explorers Post 987, Dreams Come True - Kids Helping Kids Clay, Teen Court of Clay County

Service to Youth & Families – Bannerman Learning Center’s Master Garden, Florida Striders Track Club, Seamark Ranch, Take Stock in Children Clay YMCA, Young Life Clay County