Hart to heart

When Tori takes a senior to a doctor’s appointment, she’s not just providing an essential service; she’s forming a lifelong bond.

The Transportation Program coordinator for Jacksonville’s Hart Felt Ministries is one of a handful of drivers with the organization, which provides numerous services to seniors 70 and over with chronic illness or disability and who live independently.

"I get to be a friend, providing support, comfort and companionship,” she said. “It’s special to get to know them personally and learn their individual stories about their lives and how they got to where they are now. Everyone is so unique and inspiring.”

Through an investment from Baptist Health, the nonprofit was able to expand this past year by adding a fifth vehicle and an additional driver. The funding is helping to improve access to care for underserved seniors, including taking on about 40 additional clients. The investment aligns with Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville’s priority to increase access to transportation based on the Community Health Needs Assessment, a report created by local nonprofit hospitals to guide efforts to improve the region’s health outcomes.

“The support we’ve had from Baptist Health has been monumental because it has changed our ability to serve more seniors,” said Kelly Moorman Coggins, Hart Felt president and executive director.

Northeast Florida’s transportation needs higher than state

In Northeast Florida, only 25.57% of the population lives within a half-mile of public transit, compared to 36.89% statewide and 34.76% nationally.

For Hart Felt Ministries, which serves 32 zip codes in the Jacksonville area, the need continues to rise. The number of clients in the Transportation Program has grown to 357, up from 82 in 2019 when the program started providing services. With Baptist Health’s investment, the agency was able to help reduce its wait list by 30%.

Coggins said the need for transportation and other services the agency provides is only going to continue to grow as the population ages. What’s unique about Hart Felt is that drivers stay with patients during appointments. They help with the check-in process if a senior has a hard time seeing the tablet or may even go inside to see the doctor, if requested. Drivers also help with picking up prescriptions and groceries.

“Our drivers become the clients’ eyes and ears in those medical appointments, which is so critical,” Coggins said. “The companionship is huge. If a senior is going into the doctor’s office to get some test results, which can be so scary, they have somebody they know with them who can provide companionship as well as stability. The driver stays with them the entire time, no matter how long the appointment goes for, and gets them home and settled.”

Laura is just one of the seniors for whom Hart Felt provides a lifeline. Her vision started to deteriorate several years ago, ending her passion for painting and preventing her from being able to drive. Through Hart Felt, which also helped her with other needs when her condo had plumbing issues, she said, “I thought I was getting transportation, but I got friends. I’m getting companionship and I’m getting the most support I’ve ever gotten in my life.”

Another client, Janet, said her children aren’t always able to take her to her doctor appointments and she can’t afford other car services.

“I don’t know where I would be if not for Hart Felt Ministries. They truly make a difference in my life,” she said.

Hearing those testimonies is what keeps Coggins, who has led the agency since 2015, inspired every day.

“We’re helping seniors maintain independence as long as feasibly possible,” she said. “We’re God’s hands and feet. We’re all called to serve. That, for me, is the motivation. I get to go to bed every night and thank God for letting me serve somebody.”

Hart Felt provides range of essential services

In addition to transportation services, Hart Felt, which formed in 2003, provides companionship services and simple tasks such as doing laundry or picking up groceries. They also offer fall prevention services, including building wheelchair ramps and installing railings and grab bars. Additionally, the Hart Fund meets critical needs like home repairs or paying an electric bill.

With all its services, Hart Felt Ministries helped 1,257 clients in 2025, up from 1,178 in 2024. Calls to the agency have increased from an average of 32 daily to 55 just since January 2026. The calls run the gamut from a senior who can’t drive due to a recent vision loss diagnosis, to someone facing financial struggles to pay for their rent and prescriptions.

“Hart Felt Ministries is a lifeline for so many vulnerable seniors providing not only transportation, but companionship, fellowship and friendship,” said Katie Ensign, Baptist Health’s vice president of Community Impact.

Learn more about Baptist Health’s commitment to improving health and well-being in Northeast Florida by working together with local nonprofit agencies to address a variety of needs. Read the Community Health Needs Assessment.