- October 17, 2024
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When he was a young boy, David Lydon’s family struggled. He “grew up in a house where, some years, we had the government peanut butter, the government cheese, and the government milk powder.” He went on to serve honorably in the military and is now Flagler County’s Veterans Services Officer.
Since then, the stock market has been good to him, Lydon said July 12, on Flagler Radio’s “Free For All Friday,” but he has not forgotten those earlier, leaner times. That’s why he decided to donate $1,250 to help kick off the third-annual Million Dollar Food-a-Thon.
The goal of the Food-a-Thon was to raise $200,000 in cash for the Grace Community Food Pantry. Led by Pastor Charles Silano, the pantry is able to purchase surplus food from grocery stories and other distribution networks to buy five times the amount of food as would normally be purchased in a store. Thus, $200,000 would deliver $1 million of food.
“I’m so happy to be here,” Silano said as the event began. “It’s a really great day for us, and it really helps us throughout the year to be able to meet the needs of the county. So, we’re blessed to be here.”
The goal proved elusive again this year, with $61,000 total in pledges. Still Flagler Radio President David Ayres was pleased with the grassroots effort. Some of the larger corporate sponsors of previous years didn’t participate this year, but more individuals than ever contributed.
“We appreciate every dollar,” he said. More donations will be made to the food pantry after Flagler Radio’s next big event, 19th annual Creekside Music and Arts Festival, on Oct. 5-6.
The food pantry served an average of 3,500 families per month in recent years. Now, the number is up to 5,500 families. Each Saturday and Sunday, cars line up at the entrance to the food pantry facility on Education Way, east of U.S. 1 at the intersection with Royal Palms Parkway. Often, cars start in line at 6 a.m., when the gate doesn’t open till 10 a.m., Silano said. Some neighbors pick up food for others, to help save on gas money.
A screening process ensures the families are truly in need; many struggle due to medical emergencies or job loss and pay other bills with the money that they save on food.
One food pantry family told WNZF radio, “I’m down to my last $40-$50,” adding that they wouldn’t know what they’d do without the food assistance. Others said they share any leftover food with neighbors.
The donations were announced on the radio throughout the day, with a flurry of celebratory photos posted on the Flagler Radio social media accounts.
Although the Food-a-Thon is over, the food pantry welcomes donations at https://www.gracecommunityfoodpantry.org/.
