Yesterday, November 23rd, 2023, was the tenth year that Jearlyn Ministries has spent delivering Thanksgiving meals to people in and around Flagler County. Ten years ago Pastor J started delivering meals to those in Flagler County who normally wouldn’t have a holiday meal, like elderly neighbors who don’t have family in the area. Since starting this ten years ago, Pastor J and those who work with her now provide meals to 175 families in the area.
One person in particular, Steve Lowe, has regularly donated hams and turkeys to distribute to families, despite being on a fixed income. Steve donates these items in honor of his late wife, and has never missed a year.
This year, Publix has donated all of the turkeys for this outreach service that Pastor J organizes. The Palm Coast Fire Department also came back again this year to smoke all of the meat, debone it, and package it into containers for the families. The Firefighter wives pitch in as well, making all of the sides. The Palm Coast Fire Department does this service in honor of firefighter Gammon who was the original man behind smoking the turkeys. After his passing, the PCFD jumped in to take over, in Gammon’s honor. Not only does the PCFD smoke all the turkeys, but Gammon’s father and brother also get involved. This was the second year that they came all the way from Savannah Georgia to Palm Coast to smoke the turkeys on Thanksgiving, before driving home.
Kiona Gordon from 386 Restaurant donated all of the containers for the meals, and Steve Verrier, a local businessman, helps deliver meals every single Thanksgiving. Every year the community comes together to help provide hot, ready to eat meals to those in Flagler County who normally wouldn’t have a holiday meal. Many of these seniors live off of frozen meals, and these hot ready to eat holiday meals make all the difference.