The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach and its Bunnell Satellite Club have joined forces with the Care Cupboard Food Pantry to address growing food insecurity in Flagler County through a $5,180 grant that has significantly expanded the pantry’s storage capacity.
The collaborative grant, funded equally by the two Rotary clubs, Rotary District 6970, and the Rotary Foundation, provided a 10-foot by 15-foot outdoor storage shed at the Care Cupboard Food Pantry located at 205 N Pine Street in Bunnell. The shed was delivered on November 1 and officially dedicated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 12. The boys soccer team from First Baptist Christian Academy of Palm Coast contributed to the project by landscaping around the shed on November 16.
The new storage facility has provided crucial additional space for non-perishable supplies and temperature-stable items, allowing the pantry to increase its indoor food storage capacity by 27 percent. This expansion has enabled the pantry to extend its reach from serving 1,300 people weekly, including 375 children, to 1,495 people each week. The increase represents 195 additional community members receiving food assistance, a 15 percent growth in the pantry’s community reach.
Bob Snyder, President of the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach, spoke about the significance of the partnership. “This partnership exemplifies Rotary’s commitment to addressing basic human needs in our community,” Snyder said. “By working together with our Bunnell Satellite Club and the Care Cupboard, we’re creating a sustainable solution that will help feed 195 additional community members each week.”
The Care Cupboard Food Pantry operates every Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Bunnell and serves as a vital resource for families facing food insecurity throughout Flagler County. The additional storage capacity will enable the pantry to maintain larger inventories and better respond to the growing demand for food assistance in the region.
Sandra Shank, a member of the Bunnell Satellite Club, noted the milestone the project represents for the newer organization. “This project serves as our club’s first tangible project,” Shank said. “This grant represents our shared commitment to ensuring no family in our community goes hungry.”
Residents interested in joining the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach and contributing to local and global service efforts can visit www.flaglerbeachrotary.org for more information.
