ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Feeding Tampa Bay's Executive Chef Daniel Graves is preparing his first meal at the new Trinity Cafe in St. Petersburg.

The restaurant just opened for those in need of a healthy meal.

"These are people who really need it,” said Chef Graves with Feeding Tampa Bay. “As we know food heals the body.  So, nutrients is what they need to get through their day and to give them one, full, wonderful home cooked meal with true, healthy ingredients, it means the world to us."

The free meals are served with dignity and respect.

Bobby Crider was one of the first people to eat at the new location.

"Oh, fantastic, nice and hot,” Crider said of his meal. “It's not like opening a tin can."

The Trinity Cafe is Feeding Tampa Bay's first restaurant in Pinellas County. The new location is at 6330 54th Ave. North.

The charity does have two other cafes in Hillsborough County.

And Chef Graves typically prepares more than 450 meals a day at those other locations. Now he plans to add hundreds more at the new location. He got a lot of practice “scaling up” thanks to the pandemic.

"During COVID, we were preparing, with to go meals, 17,000 a week. So, we're ready,” Graves said. “That kitchen's a power kitchen.  It can definitely prepare whatever the need is."

Feeding Tampa Bay picked a location near Kenneth City because of the need in that area.

Crider said he used to have to go to the other side of town for a hot meal. Now he plans to eat dinner at the Trinity Cafe as often as he can.

"It's a big help,” he said. “Now I don't have to go to bed hungry or eat something from the store next door."

Meanwhile, Chef Graves says he’s found his passion: Feeding people in need.

"The faces, the comments, the thank yous, are what it's all about," Graves said.