- March 27, 2024
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Halifax Urban Ministries provides the groceries to the church, as well as to residents throughout Volusia County.
BY WAYNE GRANT | STAFF WRITER
The volunteers wait in the quiet, peaceful lobby of St. James Episcopal Church with bags of groceries lining a bench. The sound of the organist practicing for the Sunday service adds a pleasant background.
They wait between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each Friday to give away the groceries to anyone who lives on the beachside between Seabreeze Boulevard and the Flagler County line. But there are few takers.
Volunteer Pat Moore said she believes there is a need in the area, however.
“A woman was sobbing here last week when she found out this was available,” she said.
“Last week, we had eight people,” said fellow volunteer Richard Shivert. “That was a record high. Sometimes we get two or three and sometimes nobody.”
The food is supplied to the church, located on South Halifax Drive, by Halifax Urban Ministries. Mark Geallis, director of community relations and development for HUM, also believes there is a need in the area.
“We have not been able to get the word out to residents that help is available to families having trouble making ends meet,” he said. “I know that there are many residents (in that area) that live below the poverty line and are struggling.”
Moore said she suspects people are embarrassed about picking up food and they wait until they are desperate. But at St. James, there is no crowded room with lines of people. It’s a personal situation in the narthex of the sanctuary, with only a couple of volunteers.
Moore said that if the organist is practicing, people will even sometimes ask if they can sit and listen for a while.
Most of the food recipients are unemployed or underemployed, but there are no restrictions. People only need to show that they live in the area to pick up food.
The volunteers ask for a photo ID and a utility bill or, if they are living in a motel, something with the motel’s letterhead. If someone shows up without anything, they can still leave with food but are instructed to bring proof on the next visit.
“We’re pretty lenient,” Shivert said. “I’ve never seen anyone go away without a bag of groceries.”
And the bags are substantial.
“Each bag weighs 45 pounds,” Shivert said. “And they also get a smaller frozen bag with stuff like sausage, turkey, patties. These groceries go a long way.”
Moore said the grocery project is part of the church’s mission to help those in need, but it also helps them meet members of their community.
“We have it in the lobby so they can see the church,” she said. “They may decide to come to a church service.”
On a recent Friday, the bags of groceries lined the bench, most left unclaimed for another day.
Volunteer Coordinator Ruth Dodson said the food is for people who face a choice between making a mortgage payment or buying groceries.
“This is how you prevent homelessness,” she said. “People can use their money for housing instead of food.”