Reconnect Ministry Tailgates Helping Students One Meal at a Time
Amid the grilling, cornhole matches and crowds huddled around TVs playing college football games during game days at the University of Florida, one group of tailgaters is setting itself apart from the rest of the pack.
Right by Marston Science Library and Century Tower, steps away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, one can find Reconnect Ministry, a nonprofit organization giving free meals to students each game day.
Food insecurity is a problem among UF students. A 2023 study found 36.1% of students experienced food insecurity, which was three times greater than Alachua County and nearly four times higher than the entire state of Florida.
So it’s no surprise that the word “free” is enticing to student passersby.
“I was just kind of walking through campus, saw the sign with a free meal for the student ID and decided to stop on by and get some lunch,” UF junior student Conner Subjinski said Saturday before Florida’s game against Oklahoma. He also said he had not seen anything advertising free food on game days apart from Reconnect Ministry.
“It’s great to have people like this out in the world that are just giving and want to help out, especially with food,” Subjinski said.
“Pretty cool,” Alex Ajuzie, a UF freshman, said about the free meals.
Steve Baldwin, president and co-founder of Reconnect Ministry, has been a season ticket holder for 18 years, and has tailgated at the same spot for the same amount of time. He took action once he began hearing requests for help from students.
“Probably five, six years ago, we used to have a lot of students coming up to our tailgate saying, ‘Hey man, can I get a free burger? … Because I’m struggling to make ends meet, we’re eating ramen noodles, canned raviolis,’” Baldwin said. “So at that point, we got together and said, ‘You know what, why don’t we feed the students a hot meal and also share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them at the same time?’”
The ministry has been serving free meals to more than 200 students for four years, and preparation starts at the beginning of game week, Baldwin said.
“We start thinking about what we’re going to serve that week,” Baldwin said. “On Thursday, we go shopping. Then on Friday, we precook everything so we can then just heat it up on game day for the students.”
The ministry served pulled pork sandwiches, corn and green beans alongside chips and a drink Saturday. The menu switches up each game day, featuring hot dogs, sausage with peppers and onions, burgers and barbecued chicken sandwiches. The ministry will also sometimes serve muffins with iced coffee, or eggs and sausage for early games.
It’s an expensive process, costing “probably about $750 a game” according to Baldwin. He said the ministry is able to serve free meals thanks to donations.
“We spread the word as much as we can, even at the games,” Baldwin said. “Even if somebody gives $10 a month, that feeds one student.”
Free meals aren’t the only service Reconnect Ministry provides on game days. It also has a prayer table where students can fill out a prayer card.
“If the students have any prayer requests, prayer for their studies, grandma, grandpa sick back home, just about anything … we will pray over them as soon as we’re done feeding,” Baldwin said. “We’re averaging about 45 to 60 prayer cards a game.”
In addition to wanting to help students dealing with food insecurity, Baldwin wants to let students know that there are people supporting them through their journey in college.
“Even while they’re here at campus, away from their parents, away from people that love them, there are people here that care about them,” Baldwin said. “We’ll pray with them, we’ll talk with them about personal issues, and also to get the Gospel of Jesus Christ out.”
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Football
