- December 5, 2025
Fourth grader Maya Mahadeo, center, and Nikki Crouse, Alysia Crouse, Elise Starrett, Nilda Rodriguez and Neza Mahadeo.
Fourth grade teacher Nilda Rodriguez, far right, helps prepare the donations with Neza Mahadeo, Delilah Herrera, Elise Starrett, Maya Mahadeo, Nikki Crouse and Alysia Crouse. Courtesy photos
Neza Mahadeo
Bob Drewes, PE coach for FBCA
Neza Mahadeo, Delilah Herrera, Karole Hernandez, Roxy Gault, Elise Starrett, Maya Mahadeo, Alysia Crouse, Nikki Crouse, Corey Banks, Cindy Hopfe and Holly Herne
William Eldredge, Pastor Charles Silano and Marty Calderwood
The cleaning supplies and food came just in time.
Two months before the coronavirus outbreak, the fourth graders at First Baptist Christian Academy collected more than 1,000 pounds of food, plus cleaning supplies, to benefit Open Door Re-Entry and Recovery Ministry, a faith-based substance abuse rehabilitation home in Bunnell. They concluded their efforts after the first week of March and planned an assembly so that the whole class could be there when the goods were presented to Open Door founder Charles Silano.
Instead, the school was closed to promote social distancing, and instead of students helping, staff and family helped load the food and supplies into Silano’s delivery truck. But the impact for Open Door was the same.
“It was very uplifting to have that kind of support,” Silano said. “The kids were very excited to do something like that, like it was a mission trip.”
“God had this timing already set up, and he knew what their needs were going to be.”
NIKKI CROUSE, fourth grade teacher
The food stocked Open Door’s pantry, and blankets and quilts were also given to its residents. Leftover dry goods were then delivered to the Grace Community Food Pantry, which Silano also administers.
The food drive was also an inspiration for the fourth grade teachers, Nikki Crouse, Neza Mahadeo and Nilda Rodriguez.
Crouse said the idea came from a combination of the students’ history lessons about food rationing during World War II, and their Bible lessons about loving one another. The students brainstormed and planned and executed.
“You could tell the pride in their eyes and in their reactions,” Crouse said. “They had ownership of this. They were counting and sorting, and they were all volunteering like crazy.”
Crouse felt there was divine intervention in the project.
“Our hearts were incredibly warmed and blessed by the blessings we were able to give to the pastor and his ministry,” she said. “God had this timing already set up, and he knew what their needs were going to be.”
