- April 18, 2024
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A woman uses her birthday as an excuse to help the hungry; the Early Learning Coalition gets a $15,000 boost; and hospital workers volunteer 956 hours to fight homelessness.
BY THE OBSERVER STAFF
Peanut butter birthday! Local donates 50 jars
Ormond Beach’s Joy Feulner turned 70 in June, but she didn't ask for any gifts this year. Instead, she asked that when her guests arrived to her party, which featured the Song of the Coast Sweet Adeline chorus, they arrived with peanut butter and jelly in hand.
A pyramid made of about 50 jars was donated, party planner Mary Ellen Stanchfield said. The jars were then dropped off at Halifax Urban Ministries, to stock its food pantry.
"This selfless approach to gift-giving has in turn provided food for those in need, which is a good thing and might encourage others to do the same on their birthdays," Stanchfield said.
Early Learning Coalition receives $15,000, plans Waterpalooza
PNC Bank has awarded the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler & Volusia a $15,000 grant from its PNC Foundation, which donates to nonprofit organizations primarily focusing on early education for at-risk students, economic development and the arts.
Every dollar the Early Learning Coalition receives locally provides the organization a 16-to-1 match from the state, turning the $15,000 into $240,000 total.
The grant will be able to serve 60 children for the next fiscal year.
The coalition has also opened sign-ups for its Waterpalooza fundraising event, which starts 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Daytona Lagoon. Teams will compete at the event to be the fastest  finishers in five water relays.
Entry is $100 per team, or $25 per person, including all-day park admission. Sponsor vendor tables are $250.
The Early Learning Coalition administers subsidized School Readiness early learning child-care programs, for children from birth to age 5. Call 323-2400, or visit elcfv.org.
Hospital workers donate 956 hours to homelessness
About 70 Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center workers and their families volunteered July 27-Aug. 1 at the Coalition for the Homeless building and the STAR Family Center, in Daytona Beach.
The workers prepared and served food, did small renovations and landscaping, and provided free screenings.
In total, they volunteered a combined 956 hours at the center. The hospital also spent more than $7,300 in renovation supplies and food, with the help of Walgreens, Lowes, PPG Porter Paints, Panes Plus and Speedi Sign, as sponsors.
Each year, the homeless-assistance center serves more than 150,000 hot meals that cost the center about 6 cents per plate.
The hospital also celebrated World Breastfeeding Awareness Week last week, by developing support groups and events, aimed at supporting breastfeeding mothers in the community.
A new support group for breastfeeding mothers will also start next month, with the first meeting Sept. 6.
Call 231-2229.
