ZEPHYRHILLS – Healing Hearts Cafe announced Dec. 3 on social media that it was going to be moving next month to the Yankeetown Community Church in Levy County.
The faith-based organization provides meals, showers and other services for people in need.
“This move has come after much prayer and consideration of health concerns,” the nonprofit wrote in a Facebook post. “We are truly humbled by the outpouring of support we have had over the many years from our Zephyrhills community. Not a day goes by without some form of donation from many individuals and many businesses.”
Healing Hearts Cafe directed people to support Pastor Fran Stubbs and her organization, which will carry on its work beginning Jan. 1. Both organizations are neighbors.
Stubbs founded the OAPN Network (Oasis Apostolic and Prophetic Network) in Zephyrhills. She also serves as senior pastor of Oasis Church Orlando at Zephyrhills.
Stubbs told the Zephyrhills City Council on Dec. 9 that continuing the work of Healing Hearts Cafe is a very huge undertaking, but she wants to expand the program.
“They did great work for the homeless community,” Stubbs said. “Our desire is to be able to expand for families and to have a resource center. One of the things that we’re missing here in Pasco County on this side are resources for our families.”
Stubbs wants to be able to offer programming for families in need, including those experiencing food insecurity. Her organization has a food pantry to help people in emergencies.
“We are here for our community,” Stubbs said. “We have already started with our feeding program, where we are partnering with several other organizations and collaborating with them.”
Stubbs wants to partner with Pasco Hernando State College to offer classes or training for families. She’d also like to partner with the City of Zephyrhills.
“I think the real strength that Healing Hearts had was the daily support for those folks who are in transition and providing a place for them to do a load of laundry or wash up or do whatever they needed help in,” Zephyrhills Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson said. “The council members here do care about all of our residents. But it’s not just the city – it’s not just the government’s responsibility. It really is a community collective.”
Want to get involved?
Pastor Fran Stubbs gave her office phone number out during the Dec. 9 city council meeting. Reach her Monday through Friday at 813-355-3066.
