- April 26, 2024
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Elva Thompson, president and founder of the Precious Hearts Foundation, has transformed her home garage into the base for the foundations new mobile food pantry.
The operation launched last week feeding 12 families on its first day.
“When I first moved down here in 2006, we needed a food bank and my transportation wasn’t always steady and I didn’t have a way,” Thompson said. “Once we started Precious Hearts in 2009, I always remembered that.”
The shelter has always had a food pantry on site for the residents, but the mobile pantry is a way the foundation can cater to the community.
“I was hearing from people that they didn’t have transportation to the food pantry, so I thought to make that a program,” she said.
The foundation partnered with Farm Share Inc. and Second Harvest Food Bank, where they pick up food every Monday. Then, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Thompson takes calls through the foundations hotline and delivers bags of food to those in need throughout the community. The outreach is not limited to domestic abuse survivors, but also includes the elderly and the homeless.
“Somebody has got to do it,” Thompson said. “Not everyone has the transportation and we wanted to be that resource for them. I love being able to help and be put in that position to where I am able to. I was there, there was a time when I needed help and now that I have been blessed, I get to pay it forward.”
Thompson said that the hunger problem in Flagler County is huge and hopes that the mobile pantry can be another resource for the community.
“We can’t solve the problem, but we need to work together to try,” she said.
Those in need of the pantry and anyone interested in volunteering may call 1-877-731-2210.
