- April 24, 2024
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A city and church partnership to raise money for a food pantry event to be held this coming Saturday, May 2, smashed the city’s goals multiple times this week, ultimately totaling $63,390 as of the morning of April 29.
"This community never ceases to amaze me with their unbelievable generosity in helping their neighbors — and their neighbors right now are in great need."
— MILISSA HOLLAND, Palm Coast mayor
The city had initially hoped for $10,000. It had raised over $18,000 in the first 48 hours after posting the effort to palmcoastconnect.com.
“We obviously know that the need is there,” Mayor Milissa Holland said. “I’ve been a part of food drives for many years in this community, and this community never ceases to amaze me with their unbelievable generosity in helping their neighbors — and their neighbors right now are in great need.”
The fundraising and food drive are being conducted in partnership with Parkview Church. Donations are accepted through Friday, May 1.
By April 28, the meeting rooms at City Hall were piled high with cases and pallets of food donated by residents and businesses, or purchased by the city using residents’ monetary donations.
“It’s like a Ford factory and a conveyor belt set-up,” said Tyler Jarnagin, the city’s communications officer. “Our final goal that we’ve set is $75,000.” But if more comes in, he said, “Every single dollar that is donated will be used to purchase more food for the community, whether it’s now or in the future.”
Businesses have also stepped in to help: Brewsters and Nathan’s donated meals for volunteers, and Walmart donated cases of water for volunteers, plus Easter candy that will be provided to residents.
Holland said that the initiative, called the Mayor’s Feed Palm Coast Initiative, began as an extension of the Rise Up Palm Coast Initiative, which was created to deliver virtual content — performances, exercise programs, cooking instruction — for residents during social distancing.
The city will bring entertainment to the event, so residents will have something to enjoy as they’re waiting for their food.
“We understand and respect that these are trying times for our residents,” she said. “We want to continue to let them know that we’re all in this together, so this will serve as, hopefully, an inspirational moment that this is truly neighbors helping neighbors. ... Our goal is to make it an experience that is uplifting.”
The city had hoped that the May 2 event would feed at least 5,000 families of four for a week. But the city government also recognized that the virus has created a level of economic precariousness that is ongoing and may be longterm for many families.
“We will continue to partner with additional food banks that are in the community to continue to not only support them but to support our residents,” Holland said.
