- April 23, 2024
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Intracoastal Bank donated $10,000 to the cause, which eventually could be used to hire a specialist to help Flagler County residents capture $800,000 in unclaimed federal benefits, including food stamps.
Intracoastal Bank and eight of its Executive Board Members came together to donate $10,000 to the Mobile Benefits Program: A Flagler County Outreach.
Bruce Page, president and CEO at Intracoastal Bank, presented the check to Doug Baxter, president of the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates, Jan. 21, during the chamber’s annual installation dinner.
"This is an incredible opportunity for our community,” Page said of the Mobile Benefits Program.
The Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates, United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, Florida Department of Children and Families, Center for Business Excellence and Second Harvest North Florida and other community members collaborated to launch this initiative.
If enough funding can be obtained ($57,000 per year for two years), the Mobile Benefits Program would hire a specialist to travel the county and help people apply online for about $800,000 of unclaimed federal dollars for food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits) in Flagler County.
Page pointed out that the money would then be immediately circulated again and again in local stores, for a much larger economic benefit.
The online process can be challenging to people who aren’t familiar with computers, according to the Rev. Charles Silano, of Grace Community Food Pantry.
“They fail quickly because they don’t answer the questions correctly,” he said.
At a meeting Tuesday, Feb. 8, Silano said, the group discussed ways to help now while funds are still being raised. He said volunteers at the food pantry could be trained to help people with the online applications. Getting started could help generate momentum for the fundraising, he said.
“Maybe people will be more likely to give to a program that already is functioning,” he said. “In today’s economy, people don’t want to operate on a theory.”
He also said the school administration could contribute staff resources and/or use the Make It Take It bus for the cause, but those options would add to the overall cost of the program and aren’t being considered in the short term.
For more information, visit www.mobilebenefitsprogram.org or contact Alicia Casas of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties at 366-9052.
Brian McMillan contributed to this report.
