Palm Coast's Rick Meyer wins first in Senior Games, raises money for Ormond Beach's Provision Packs

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

by: Cindy Dalecki

Marketing 2 Go

Rick Meyer, a 72-year-old Palm Coast resident, has won two first-place medals — one in deadlift and the second in the bench press competition — in the Jacksonville Senior Games that was held Sept. 28.

The competition allowed Meyer to launch a "Lift for the Kids Challenge" to help raise money to feed kids through Provision Packs. Donors estimated how much combined weight Meyer would lift. Through this pledge challenge and major donors, he raised $35,000, which will provide weekend meal packages for 132 kids for a full school year.

“People are always surprised to learn that we have children in our backyards that receive all their meals at school and do not have a reliable food source on the weekends," Meyer said. "Once they understand that Provision Packs supplies meals to these kids, they are happy to donate.”

Lead sponsors included Ocean Hammock Community Outreach and New Way Church. Both made significant donations and committed to volunteer work.

Provision Packs is an Ormond Beach-based organization that provides weekend meal packages for children that receive the majority of their food at school during the week, but do not have a reliable food source on weekends. Each week, volunteers pack approximately 500 meal packages for nine elementary schools in Volusia and Flagler counties.

Meyer now qualifies to advance to the Florida State Senior games, which will be held in Orlando in December.

“I am going to enter the deadlift and wants to focus on training and being able to lift 400 pounds," Meyer said. "That would break the record that’s been held for 10 years.”

WJXT Channel 4 will sponsor Meyer and will be reporting on his results.

Anyone interested in helping feed the kids is invited to visit https://www.provisionpacks.org/ and click on the More, then Donate tab.