More than 1 million reasons to be grateful

Tammy Mitchell, James Horn and Betti Jefferson are shown during a food distribution event held by A Chance for Hope Outreach Ministries at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Ocala on April 2, 2026. The outreach has served or distributed more than 1 million meals over six years. [Photo by Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette]

Betti Jefferson has given thanks a million times over for her recovery from a nearly three decades long addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol.

“I got clean from a 27-year-long addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol 16 years ago and saw how I was blessed. It was the spark to help others,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson, an Ocala native, is pastor of A Chance for Hope Outreach Ministries, which was established here six years ago. She said the outreach surpassed the 1 million meals served or distributed milestone in December of 2025.

A Chance for Hope Outreach Ministries includes church services, a prison ministry and the community feeding program that began with distributions in Jefferson’s front yard in 2020. The program moved for a few months to a vacant lot near her home until a partnership was formed with St. Mark’s United Methodist Church about five years ago. 

The distributions now take place at the church’s fellowship hall at 1839 NE 8th Road, Ocala, where the covered entrance serves as a drive thru. The program includes a “No Child Left Hungry” summer meal component and the outreach also provides assistance to a group of needy students at a local elementary school.

A Chance for Hope Outreach Ministries had made free hot cooked meals for more than 300 people at the Gathering Cafe in 2021 and again for a similar group at St. Mark’s UMC, Jefferson explained. She said Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets that provided a “full holiday” for about 30 families were taken to locations including Adams Bay (formerly Parkside Apartments) in 2023 and 2024. 

“We are a ministry who loves people and help those in need. We will go next where God leads us,” Jefferson noted.

Jefferson said the outreach recently began receiving food from the Florida Food Bank. A spokesperson said the food bank, located at the Gateway to Hope Ministries building in northwest Ocala, opened in August of 2025 and supplies several local outreach agencies weekly.

Tammy Mitchell leads a team of seven A Chance for Hope Outreach Ministries volunteers. She said she sees an “increased need” with visitors to the food distributions speaking of higher food prices, lost jobs and fixed incomes. She said the outreach provides food to about 175 families weekly.

Jill and Michael Beck have been co-pastors of St. Mark’s UMC for about six years. 
 
“We’re happy to partner with (A Chance for Hope Outreach Ministries),” Michael Beck said.

He said A Chance for Hope Outreach Ministries dovetails with and helps increase participation in other church programs, such as Family Table, a weekly community dinner hosting upwards of 100 guests in the fellowship hall.

St. Mark’s UMC also is home to Open Arms Village, an in-patient addiction treatment program that can house up to 27 men, with an expansion of the program in progress.   

James Horn with St. Mark’s also volunteers with A Chance for Hope Outreach Ministries and assisted at a recent food distribution in which visitors received food including cases of eggs, cookies and more.

A woman named Esther said the eggs would help with her family’s Easter holiday.

“I thank God for them,” she said of the outreach and volunteers.

Information about food distributions, which usually take place on Wednesday mornings, as well as other events, can be found at the ministry’s Facebook page at fb.com/profile.php?id=100064324374352#