Barnabus Center workers distribute food in Callahan. | Barnabas Center
Published on October 7, 2025 at 4:06 pm
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The Barnabas Center, a social services provider in Nassau County, is seeing a growing need for its services.
The nonprofit organization in Fernandina Beach provides medical, dental and health services to lower-income or uninsured residents. With increasing demand, it is expanding to western Nassau County.
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Barnabas Center says it has seen a 65% increase this year in people seeking help with rent and utilities in western Nassau County. The center is reaching out to people in Callahan or Hilliard who may be struggling.
Barnabas Communications Director Nicola Barnack says the organization helps working individuals who are income-constrained and on the cusp of not having enough to support their families.
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“A lot of these individuals are seeking additional services, and that can be something as simple as just providing food or just one little leg up to help them stay above water,” she said.
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As the government shutdown drags on, Barnack explained that although Barnabas does not get government funding, any government action that affects other nonprofits brings the organization more clients.
“It already actually happened to us the first two months of our year, which started in July, and we’ve had a 35% increase in food need so we have more individuals coming through our food line every week.”
Barnabas is building a new health services clinic in Callahan called “Barnabus Center West” that will be completed next year.
For now, the center is providing services at Callahan Methodist Church from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (by appointment only) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Clients can get help applying for Barnabas Center “empowerment programs,” which involve medical services (including a nurse practitioner), dental services, applications for SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid, and financial assistance for rent and utilities for those earning up to two times of the federal poverty level.
In response to food insecurity in Nassau County, Barnabas Center continues to offer a food pantry program, mobile food distribution events and emergency food bags for working families across the county.
Regular food bank hours are 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Friday at Barnabas Center on Jasmine Street in Fernandina Beach. All food distributions are first-come, first-served. They are available up to twice monthly per household.
Evening pantry hours are 5 to 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month.
More information is available at BarnabasNassau.org. The organization’s annual “Empty Bowls” luncheon to raise awareness and monetary support will be Nov. 25 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
