ORANGE PARK — Seven of the county’s newest nonprofit leaders came together March 20 to spread the word about how they’re impacting the community.

This month’s Clay Safety Net Alliance meeting, held at Mercy Support Services, hosted a women-led panel of some of the county’s leading organizations to discuss their missions and share their personal journeys.

Amy Parker, executive director of the Paul and Klare Reinhold Foundation, moderated the event.

Speakers included Executive Director of Clay County Habitat for Humanity Carolina Morrow, CEO of Quigley House Julia Edwards, Executive Director of The Way Free Medical Clinic Andrea Crowder, Executive Director of Vision is Priceless Cheryl Stakes, Executive Director of Waste Not Want Not Kathleen Spears, Director of Clay County Community and Social Services Shontey Hambrick, and CEO of First Coast Women's Services Jennifer Pace. 

Each panelist was asked to look back in time and speak about their inspiration and what they hope for the future of their organization. 

While Morrow spoke about her goals to expand affordable housing for lower-income families, Edwards explained how she wants to work out of her job assisting survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in getting the help that they need. 

Stakes spoke of her nonprofit’s desire to improve vision health for adults and children in Northeast Florida, while Crowder elaborated on her clinic’s revolutionary approach to providing free health care to local individuals in need. 

Spears talked about her nonprofit’s rescuing of over 2 million pounds of wasted food to fight hunger, Hambrick addressed her mission to serve the county’s causes of child welfare and veterans support, and Pace expounded on her organization's advocacy for pro-life initiatives and faith-led support.