St. Augustine Nonprofit Named Only Florida Finalist for 2027 Chick-fil-A® True Inspiration Award

St. Augustine Society staff in front of St. Francis House Crisis Center

Vote for St. Augustine Society to receive $200,000 grant to help feed those in critical need

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, UNITED STATES, August 28, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The St. Augustine Society, which helps individuals, youth, and families experiencing hunger and housing instability, has been named a finalist for a 2027 Chick-fil-A^® True Inspiration Regional Award. The St. Johns County nonprofit is the only Florida-based organization in the Southeast up for the grant. Chick-fil-A^® Owner/Operator Wayne Efford nominated the St. Augustine Society after working with its “From Hunger to Housing” approach for nearly a decade. As finalists, they will be awarded a $35,000 grant and are now in the running for an additional $200,000 grant, which would strengthen the nonprofit’s ability to sustain and scale its food infrastructure across all three of its programs.

Voting for the True Inspiration Awards Grant opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and continues through Wednesday, Sept. 30. Anyone can vote once through the Chick-fil-A app, available on the App Store or Google Play.

“At St. Augustine Society, food is more than nourishment,” said Joy Case, Director of Development at the St. Augustine Society, Inc. “It’s our first point of connection for individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. A meal may seem simple, but for someone in crisis, it can be the moment everything begins to change. By using food as a starting point for care, we build trust and work to connect people facing hunger to shelter, services, and pathways that lead to lasting housing stability.”

The True Inspiration Awards^® program was created in 2015 to honor the legacy of Chick-fil-A^® founder S. Truett Cathy. Through these annual grants, the program celebrates and supports nonprofit organizations making an impact in their local communities. “We’re incredibly honored and excited to be nominated for such an impactful award and to be recognized for the critical care we provide,” says Case. Since 1984, St. Augustine Society has provided those experiencing hunger and housing insecurity with essential services. Its three connected programs use food as the entry point to engagement and support. The St. Francis Housing Crisis Center provides emergency shelter, daily meals, and housing-focused services to individuals and families; the Port in the Storm Homeless Youth Center provides meals, shelter, and structured support for unaccompanied youth; and the SOS Street Outreach delivers meals directly to individuals living unsheltered.

The numbers show that the St. Augustine Society’s approach is working. From Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2025, the St. Augustine Society served 3,203 individuals across its three programs, sheltering 2,278 people and providing 499,638 life-sustaining meals. Recent case management numbers from the first half of 2026 show great success, with 48% of those at St. Francis Housing Crisis Center and 50% from Port in the Storm exiting to positive housing situations.

The St. Augustine Society estimates it serves an average of 1,000 individuals annually and expects demand to remain high in 2027, driven by ongoing community need and the addition of the Goff Family Shelter this year, which provides temporary housing for adults with minor children. Case says the grant funding will directly support food purchases, kitchen operations, and meal distribution. This ensures that meals remain consistent, accessible, and available despite fluctuations in community donations. The two St. Augustine Chick-fil-A^® locations have been steadfast supporters, donating more than 100,000 pounds of food over time.

“We’ve worked with the St. Augustine Society since 2017, providing in-kind food donations and gift cards,” says Wayne Efford, Owner/Operator of two Chick-fil-A^® St. Augustine locations. “I also encourage all my team members to participate in the St. Francis House’s Chef’s Night Out, where they can help serve meals directly to shelter residents and see the work in action. It’s an honor to give back to the St. Johns County community that shows us so much love and support. Just one meal can start a conversation that helps someone when they need it most.”

Voting for the True Inspiration Awards Grant opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and continues through Wednesday, Sept. 30. Anyone can vote once through the Chick-fil-A app, available on the App Store or Google Play.

ABOUT ST. AUGUSTINE SOCIETY, INC.: Founded in 1984, St. Augustine Society works to provide housing crisis services to all in need through St. Francis Housing Crisis Center, Port in the Storm Homeless Youth Center, and SOS Street Outreach Services. One hundred percent of contributions support St. Augustine Society, Inc. St. Francis Housing Crisis Center, Port in the Storm Homeless Youth Center, and SOS Street Outreach Services are programs of St. Augustine Society, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 59-2475614. Learn more at www.stasociety.org and follow along on social media @StFrancisPortInTheStorm

Kara Pound
Old City Public Relations
+1 386-237-4500
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