- May 6, 2024
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An effort to raise 1,000 $20 gift cards, with thank you notes, for nurses and health care support staff AdventHealth Palm Coast crossed the halfway mark on Friday, Aug, 27, and organizer Carla Cline is trying to spread the word and get more locals involved.
"I think right now, where people are kind of volatile and angry and frustrated, a wave of kindness needs to surface over Florida at this time and we need to start doing things for each other and looking out for each other."
— CARLA CLINE, organizer
"Largely, these cards have come from Flagler Beach, and there's a whole bigger side of this community that — everybody uses the hospital at some option — that can participate in this, so I'm reaching out to everyone in Flagler County — and beyond, if you like," Cline said on Flagler Broadcasting's "Free For All Friday" on June 27.
Cline, the owner of Flagler Surf Art and Stuff and the website www.flaglersurf.com, had collected 432 cards by Friday morning and 500 by that evening. A local motel, the Si Como No Inn, also donated 15 two-night stays.
"It started just because I was upset and angry and frustrated, and instead of reacting to things, I decided to put my energy into something positive and help people that really, really need our support," she said. "So I decided to use the platform that I have been so fortunate to have built over the years of wonderful people and put out a message, 'Hey why don't you support your local restaurant, go buy a $20 gift card, and then we can give it to somebody who really needs a morale boost right now."
Cline has since heard of other people taking up the same idea for health care workers in Orlando, Brandon and Palatka.
"Its starting to spread, slowly," she said. "I think right now, where people are kind of volatile and angry and frustrated, a wave of kindness needs to surface over Florida at this time, and we need to start doing things for each other and looking out for each other."
Some nurses have already reached out to say thank you.
"They're really tired and they're really overwhelmed, and they really need us to pull our acts together and kind of start working together and be a team and be doing the right thing," Cline said.
There are four locations where people can drop off the gift cards: Flagler Surf Art and Stuff in Flagler Beach, Wild Birds Unlimited at the Island Walk Shopping Center in Palm Coast, Intracoastal Bank, and the Flagler Auditorium. Donors can also reach out to Cline on Facebook Messenger or email her at [email protected].
