- November 23, 2024
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June and Warren Duncan volunteer every week at the Jerry Doliner Food Bank which is part of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties. Photo by Michele Meyers
June Duncan, Warren Duncan and Paul Tibbetts take a break after handing out food at the Jerry Doliner food bank which is part of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties President Marvin Miller volunteers at the Jerry Doliner Food Bank. Photo by Michele Meyers
Danica Zganjer and Darko Zganjer stop by to pick up some food for friends at the Jerry Doliner Food Bank. Photo by Michele Meyers
Danica Zganjer and Darko Zganjer stop by to pick up some food for friends at the Jerry Doliner Food Bank. Photo by Michele Meyers
Warren Duncan (front left) and June Duncan (right) pose with fellow volunteers who work every Wednesday at the the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties food bank. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jerry Doliner Food Bank volunteer June Duncan distributes bread to the grocery bags as people arrive for food. Photo by Michele Meyers
Warren and June Duncan enjoy a moment together as they volunteer at the Jerry Doliner Food Bank which is part of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties. Photo by Michele Meyers
June Duncan picks some lemons from the tree in her front yard. Photo by Michele Meyers
After moving to Ormond Beach in 2003 when their son got a job in New Smyrna Beach, following many winters spent “snowbirding” in Florida, the Duncans began seeking a church community that was a fit for them. They found The Chapel, which held services at the Congregation Beth Judah, a Messianic Jewish synagogue. Both of them were curious and attended both the church and synagogue services for 10 years.
“At the end of that 10 years we were going to synagogue on Saturday, church on Sunday, Bible study on Tuesday, Bible study on Wednesday, a Bible study on Friday and special meetings with the rabbi,” Warren said.
In 2004, the Duncans went on a trip to Israel with the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties.
Prior to boarding the plane, the Duncans realized they had left June’s migraine medication at home. The debilitating nature of the headaches made them question the trip. They said they decided to “travel on faith.” June said she has not had a migraine since the trip.
“When we arrived in Israel, everyone was impressed,” she said. “Even the mayor of Tiberius was very impressed with the Jewish and Christian people who traveled to Israel together.”
Following the trip, they gave Gloria Max, the Jewish Federation’s late executive director, a ride home. Max told them about the Jerry Doliner Food Bank. They asked if she needed help, they gave her their contact information and the rest is history.
They’ve been volunteering there ever since.
‘We say it was God’s work’
The Duncans met at a youth retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains 1958. It was her 16th birthday, and June said she thought everyone had forgotten her. She had a boyfriend at the time who was working to buy her an engagement ring, but when Warren Duncan asked her to see a movie, she said yes. They talked all night and never watched the show. They were married on April 15, 1960.
“I guess you could say I found my soulmate,” she said.
Warren graduated from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in chemistry. After the couple had two children — Suzanne and Aaron — Warren decided to get his doctorate at the University of California in Irvine where they lived on campus, and he ran a drug lab for the Huntington Beach Police Department.
The couple began to move frequently as he was hired by different companies that were bought out by others. They lived in Freeport, Bahamas; Michigan; Deer Park, Texas; Pennsylvania and north of Chicago.
“The see-America-the-hard-way plan,” June said. “But we say it was God’s work. He seemed to put us in places that worked out so well.”
Warren and June Duncan have repeatedly stepped up whenever needed for longer than I can remember. They always have a cheerful smile and easygoing demeanor. They are a true asset to the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties. The Duncans deserve a little recognition for all the hard work here behind the scenes." — PAUL TIBBETTS, Jerry Doliner Food Bank volunteer
The Jewish Federation purchases food from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and gets donations from local Publix, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Panera Bread, to name a few.
This year at the annual Christmas giveaway, the Jerry Doliner Food Bank volunteers handed out food to 400 families which included hams, produce, cakes and pies, an initiative that cost close to $13,000.
Jewish Federation President Marvin Miller took over at the food bank when Max died on Sept. 10, 2021. Miller said the food bank relies on the volunteers to keep the facility operational. They revamped the entire system and now do more in one day more than was done in two.
“The volunteers make it fun,” Miller said. “They have figured out a way to make it quicker and slicker with the help of everybody. They make it work here. Because the volunteers work, that’s how we get it done. They all come from such wonderful backgrounds — some were blue collar, some were engineers. Each one fits in. They love it here because they see what we’re doing.”
On Sept. 6, 2019, the Duncans lost their Crystal Circle home to a house fire. It was a total loss. Warren was able to save both cars and June saved their cat along with her favorite shoes. The community rallied behind them.
“I did not feel devastated,” June said. “On the fourth day, my cat came back. I was thankful. That’s God.”
The Duncans said volunteering makes sense.
“The Lord has given to us so much, we feel we owe something to somebody,” June said. “We’ve got the time, the time of life and the energy to do it. We also understand what’s going on. We watch people around here go broke and lose their homes. This is what’s going on and they need help.”
