ORANGE PARK – Just a few seconds into Sandra Staudt-Killea’s description of this year’s winner of the Paul E. Reinhold Community Service Award, Gray Chandler’s eyes widened as he turned toward another volunteer with the James Boys Ministry with a surprised look.

“When they started talking about the bikes, we’re the only ones with the bike ministry in the whole county,” Chandler said. “When they started talking about the ramps and helping people’s homes, that’s when I really said, ‘Really? Really? Really?’ It was an incredible feeling.”

And one that earned the nonprofit the top award of $15,000.

For the 28th consecutive year, the Paul and Klare Reinhold Foundation honored many of Clay County’s leading nonprofit groups by doling out a total of $100,000 to 47 organizations Tuesday at the Thrasher-Horne Center.

The group of 48 retirees from Orange Park United Methodist Church spends the year refurbishing bicycles for the J.P. Hall Christmas Children’s Charity, as well as making wheelchair ramps and home repairs and working with Clay County Habitat for Humanity. Seeing a child ride away on a bicycle or an elderly person being able to move freely into and around their home was the only payoff the group wanted.

The Paul and Klare Reinhold Foundation made sure their reward will be able to finance additional projects.

“With the goodness that they bring to young and old alike, certainly in many forms, but rarely more constructively than with this inspiring crew of 48 skilled volunteers,” Staudt-Killea said. “They had a record year last year using our hearts, hands, and talents to build a better community throughout 70 various service projects across the entire county.

“Last year, these faithful volunteers were called into action to repair rooms, replace wood rot, rebuild sagging porches and attend to numerous other handyman repairs, helping many neighbors to stay safe in their homes.”

Their biggest project, however, is bicycles. They collected and refurbish old bikes to be given away to needy children and adults. The bulk of their work is dedicated to the J.P. Hall Christmas party at the Clay County Fairgrounds. Last year, the James Boys were able to give away 470 bikes.

“Their volunteers answered the call to build access to homes for handicapped, elderly residents,” Staudt-Killea said. “Last year, they continued to answer the call despite the rising costs of materials, creating wheelchair ramps customer adds each one unique, unique in its length and elevation, and some of them reaching lengths of 75 feet to adhere to strict building codes. During the 52 weeks of 2021, this ministry provided the gift of mobility to a record number of needy residents, with a total of 60 wheelchair ramps. Many of these craftsmen also utilize other charities providing professional carpentry skills on a regular basis like Habitat and helping them to build affordable housing.”

Other groups were recognized as well. Quigley House and Operation Barnabas each earned $7,000 for the Judges’ Choice Program Award, while Elaine Smith’s Clamour Theatre Company was given $7,000 for the first Jack Myers Executive Director Awards, Johnny Williams got $7,000 for winning the Peggy Bryan Volunteer of the Year Award.

The Judges’ Choice Volunteer Awards, worth $3,500 each, were given to Kathy Wray of the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry and Ali Griffin of Clay County Habitat for Humanity.

The Children’s Home Society of Florida, Clay County 4-H Foundation, Clothes Closet and Food Pantry, J.P. Hall Children’s Charities, McRae Elementary Weekend Food Program, Mission of the Dirt Road, Oakleaf Village Elementary Music Program, Clay County Schools District’s Project REACH Kids, Seniors on a Mission and Take Stock in Children in Clay County all got $2,000 each for Special Judges’ Awards.

A group of 30 other nonprofits got for $1,000 each as class Category Winners.

More than 140 organizations applied for awards, according to the foundation.