The Mercy Staff
Mercy Support Services is a Christ centered non-profit organization with over a decade of service to the Clay County community in Florida. Mercy Support Services exists to meet the needs of people experiencing circumstantial crisis and housing insecurity.
Our Leadership
In 1997, Patrick joined the City Rescue Mission where he served in various capacities, eventually assuming the role of Executive Director and CEO in 2003. He left in 2010 and enjoyed a brief period of semi-retirement while doing consulting work with his wife. Having been a Clay County resident for 21 years and knowing the need for improvement in homeless conditions here, Patrick now serves as CEO at Mercy Support Services. His experience and leadership in the community have produced growth and a vision for Mercy that has a major impact in Clay County.
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Dena Collins, a Jacksonville/Orange Park native, has been part of the Mercy family since February 2017. Coming from a strong background in corporate America, she brought with her a wealth of administrative and leadership experience to help Mercy grow and thrive. With over 16 years in ministry leadership and missions, Dena first served as Program Director before stepping into the role of Chief Operations Officer. Today, she leads as Executive Director, where she oversees daily operations, manages staff, directs program and development efforts, supports the organization's visionary CEO, and handles human resources. Dena’s deep faith in God and her heart for people and community are what fuel her every day.
Carmen is a passionate leader dedicated to building strong communities. With experience in startup church growth, event planning, and ministry outreach, she excels at fostering engagement and bringing people together for meaningful causes. Committed to family and community, Carmen's leadership and vision make her a valuable asset in any Christ-centered mission.
Director of Development
Carmen Queen
Reverend Dr. Phyllis is a servant leader dedicated to empowering others to discover their potential, passion, and purpose. An ordained minister, she holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling from Jacksonville Theological Seminary, is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (N.C.C.A.), and a credentialed Transformational Life Coach (Dream Mentors International). She is also a Maxwell Method Certified DISC Consultant and holds a BA in Interpersonal Group Communication from Trinity International University.
Director of Programs
Rev. Dr. Phyllis Simpson