- April 26, 2024
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It's better to give than to receive.
That's a Bible verse Crystal and Cuba Hanks, owners of Abaco Windows, are putting into practice daily since the coronavirus pandemic. They've opened the doors of their Holly Hill business to the community, acting as a drop-off and pick-up site for food donations, brown bag lunches for children and any other need that comes up.
“Cuba and I, we pray daily that the Lord blesses us to be a blessing, and right now, we’re in a position that we can do those kind of things," Crystal Hanks said.
She's been using the "Community in a Time of Quarantine" Facebook group, started by Ormond Beach resident Stephanie Gonter, to find those needs. On Friday, March 20, the Hanks helped collect food for a local blind veteran who couldn't find the groceries he needed in town. They've also donated table sugar to nearby Copper Bottom Distillery to allow them to continue to make hand sanitizer for the community.
At one time in their lives, the Hanks needed help, and now they're able to pay it forward.
“I just think that it’s amazing that everybody is coming together in a time of need," Crystal Hanks said. "That the community, the people, just everyone — We’re all grouping together and helping."
Cuba Hanks said fear of reaching out may stop people from lending a hand, and that it's easy to get discouraged.
“If somebody wants to help, they should step up and say, ‘if you guys want to help, you can help this way,’ instead of just shutting them down and saying you can’t do it," he said.
As a child, brown bag lunches saved his life, he said. When schools closed due to the coronavirus, their concern were the children — especially those at the Holly Hill School — that would lose daily meals. By getting connected in "Community in the Time of Quarantine," they're doing what they can to keep children fed.
“This group fills all of those needs for the children and that’s pretty amazing,” Crystal Hanks said.
Abaco Windows is located at 1094 Flomich St. Call 202-2962.
