Dinner leads to $1 million gift
For more than 40 years, Downtown Ecumenical Services Council (DESC) has operated out of the basement of First Presbyterian Church, helping Jacksonville residents cover rent and utilities, pick up groceries, and find clothing when they need it most. The partnership has been steady and meaningful, providing a consistent home base for services that thousands of people have relied upon over the years.
As the need has grown, so has the organization. The current space is about 5,000 square feet and while it has served DESC well, it also naturally limits how many people can be helped at a time, how services are delivered, and how the organization can expand. Right now, the food pantry and clothing assistance are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, largely because of those constraints.
Executive Director David Clark has led DESC for nearly a decade, and, like most nonprofit leaders, he spends a lot of time discussing opportunities and challenges with people invested in the work. Some of those conversations have resulted in a close relationship with longtime supporters Vince and Linda Ferrigno. Vince’s connection to DESC goes back more than 30 years, including service on the board. Linda is passionate about DESC’s work boots program, which provides boots and nonslip shoes for people in service jobs so they can stay safe and employed. For more than 10 years, instead of birthday gifts, she has asked friends and family to donate to the program. The Ferrignos are thoughtful, consistent supporters.
As neighbors, they often invite Clark over for dinner, a time to visit and socialize, and their conversations usually turn to DESC. One of those dinners, in February 2023, became something more.
“I mentioned we were experiencing growing pains, and we needed a change from our basement setting to be able to serve our clients better,” said Clark.
It wasn’t a formal ask – just a conversation about what the organization was running up against.
What happened next caught Clark completely off guard.
“Vince asked me, ‘Do you need a building? I will buy you one,” Clark recalled. “And Linda added, ‘Say yes!’”
Clark still describes the moment in stages.
“At first, I was just so surprised,” Clark said. “It was unexpected because I wasn’t asking him for a gift. We were just talking about challenges in the organization. And then, wow.”
He left their house that night, still processing it.
“After I wasn’t just stuck on the element of surprise, I was so excited about the opportunity. I remember calling Julie Handley in the driveway as I was leaving the Ferrignos’ house and telling her, you won’t believe what just happened!”
At that point, there were no details: no building selected, no campaign structure in place – just the possibility and excitement of a significant change for DESC.
One conversation set everything else in motion.
Today, DESC is preparing to move into a new facility at 956 N. Liberty St.
The building is 10,000 square feet, all on one level, and designed to be more accessible and flexible for the people DESC serves. The Ferrignos purchased it for $1 million, helping launch a $3.6 million capital campaign that has raised nearly $3 million. Julie Handley serves as the capital campaign chair.
Construction is underway. Walls were broken in April 2025, the building permit is in hand, and the organization expects to open before the end of the year. The additional space will allow DESC to expand hours and services, connecting clients not only to emergency assistance but also to literacy support, legal aid, nutrition and medical screenings through on-site partnerships with other nonprofits that provide additional resources.
It’s a natural next step for an organization that has grown steadily over time, with the support of partners like First Presbyterian Church and donors who have stayed close to the work – a next step that began with a simple conversation with friends over dinner.
That moment set DESC on a new path. With the new building, expanded services, and growing community support, the organization is ready to meet the needs of even more people and begin its next chapter in a bigger, more accessible space.
“The Ferrignos have always been so committed to DESC, making connections, providing ideas, and asking how they can help,” said Clark. “We are deeply grateful.”
