How a local partnership serves Florida students and families
As the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A® Southside Blvd at the Avenues and Chick-fil-A® Southside Mall, Joel Parker has seen firsthand how a warm meal can bring comfort, connection and care. That’s why he and his Team Members are committed to extending that same feeling beyond the walls of the Restaurant.
For Joel and his Team Members, giving back to the Jacksonville community isn’t a one-time initiative — it’s part of the daily rhythm of Restaurant operations. Through a partnership with Campus Connection 838 — a local campus ministry serving students and families facing food insecurity — Joel’s Restaurants donate surplus food to help create meals for people in need.
The Restaurants’ weekly donations are a simple act with a meaningful impact: nourishing neighbors and creating hope, one meal at a time.
A partnership with a shared purpose
Joel’s partnership with Campus Connection 838 is made possible through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, which empowers local Owner-Operators to fight hunger in their communities by donating surplus food to local organizations that serve those in need.
Each week, volunteers from Campus Connection 838 pick up surplus food from Joel’s Restaurants and repurpose the ingredients into nourishing meals, like pot pies, enchiladas, soups and casseroles, to feed those in the community facing food insecurity.
“It’s a very fulfilling program for us,” Joel said. “We were looking for a way to put our surplus food to good use and connect more with the community, and the Shared Table program opened the door to do just that.”
A simple act with a big impact
Campus Connection 838, founded by Johnny and Tammy Brown, began by distributing meals to college students experiencing food insecurity. Today, their reach spans Arlington and Orange Park, supporting people across the community—including those who are experiencing homelessness, struggling families and anyone in need of a warm, nourishing meal.
The impact of Joel’s Shared Table partnership extends beyond food. Campus Connection 838 also offers support services such as help with gas bills and access to clothing. Still, it’s the meals—made possible by Joel’s Restaurants—that have become the heart of their outreach.
Investing in the Jacksonville community
Over the years, Joel’s Restaurants have supported a number of local organizations through Chick-fil-A Shared Table. In 2024, Joel nominated his previous Shared Table partner, Feeding Northeast Florida, for a Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award® grant. The food bank went on to receive $200,000 to support its hunger-fighting efforts in Jacksonville.
Today, more than 2,300 Chick-fil-A restaurants participate in Shared Table. Since the program’s inception, it has provided more than 35 million meals to neighbors in need and diverted over 39 million pounds of food from landfills.
Joel sees Shared Table as a natural extension of how his Restaurants serve the community, week in and week out.
“It’s not a one-off volunteer day or a fundraiser,” Joel said. “Giving back is a part of how we operate, week after week.”
