- November 16, 2025
The food pantry is prepared. But it could still use more help.
On the Oct. 31 episode of Flagler Radio’s “Free For All Friday,” volunteers and community members highlighted the Grace Community Food Pantry in Bunnell, and the need for food among Flagler County families. The radio’s Million Dollar Food-A-Thon is Nov. 7.
The food pantry serves approximately 6,000 families in Flagler County every month. Silano was asked by David Ayres if the food pantry anticipates more families to sign up since SNAP benefits are in jeopardy. There are about 13,000 people in Flagler Beach receiving SNAP.
“The food banks are well ahead of this to make sure we’ll have some food products for everybody that shows up,” Pastor Charles Silano, food pantry organizer, said. “I don’t see us running out of food, because we’re prepared for things like this.”
Grace Community Food Pantry volunteer Jessie Zaccaro said during the show that she had sought out help from the food pantry prior to becoming a volunteer herself.
“I just fell in love with the people, and I refused to leave,” Zaccaro said.
EXPANDING INTO SCHOOLS
Almost every Flagler County school campus has its own food pantry, according to Flagler Schools Families in Transition Liaison Rashawnda Miller. If a student or family needs assistance from the pantry, Miller encourages them to reach out to their school’s counselor.
One high school student still resonates with Miller. The student told her: "Now we don’t have to choose between laundry detergent and food,” Miller said.
Grace Community Food Pantry also provides clothing and hygiene items, including feminine hygiene products, every other month to local schools.
“It’s food, its clothing, its toiletries, it's all of that,” Grace Community Food Pantry Coordinator/Treasurer Dottie Colletta said. “A person needs all of that, especially a child.”
A student who began utilizing the donated personal hygiene items personally told Colletta how much his grades had improved due to the newfound self confidence.
MILLION DOLLAR FOOD-A-THON
On Friday, Nov. 7, Flagler Radio will begin collecting donations for the food pantry through the fourth annual Million Dollar Food-A-Thon. The donation kick off will begin during the show’s first hour, at 9 a.m. The goal for this year's Food-A-Thon is $100,000. About $200,000 was raised for the pantry in years past, and Silano is able to use connections at food banks to make donations stretch further.
“So if you give a dollar, Dottie and Pastor Silano can buy five, if you donate $100, they can buy $500 worth of food, which would feed some families,” Ayres said.
Superintendent of Flagler Schools LaShakia Moore joined the discussion via phone call during the Oct. 31 episode. Moore said that 44% of Flagler County families qualify for some type of assistance.
“Its a great opportunity for our entire community to really get involved, especially this time of year,” Moore said. “As we go into the last two months of the calendar year, individuals are looking for more ways to make a difference, and this is an incredible way to do that.”
'TEAMING' UP WITH TEAM FEED FLAGLER
The food pantry has partnered up with Team Feed Flagler, an organization begun by Melissa Holland years ago, and now inherited by Grace Community Food Pantry. Through Team Feed Flager, multiple churches and organizations join forces.
“What we like to do is give a gift card, so people can have a Thanksgiving turkey dinner in the dignity of their own home,” Silano said. “And that keeps a community together.”
For homeless individuals, Thanksgiving meals will be provided at different locations, which are listed on the Grace Community Food Pantry website: www.gracecommunityfoodpantry.org/team-feed-flagler.
Colletta shared that thousands of veterans come through the pantry’s doors weekly, in need of assistance. The duo of Team Feed Flagler and Grace Community Food Pantry will be giving out 100 $50 gift cards to veterans this Thanksgiving. In addition, the two organizations plan to give out 100 more $50 gift cards to the Fit Program for children for Thanksgiving.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
The Grace Community Food Pantry is located at 245 Education Way, Bunnell, and open for distribution on Saturdays from 10a.m. to 1p.m., and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. Families in need of assistance are urged to arrive during any distribution time and fill out minimal paperwork prior to receiving weekly pantry items.
Donations can be made on the food pantry’s website, at www.gracecommunityfoodpantry.org/. The pantry is always looking for additional volunteers. If interested, call Dottie Colletta at (386) 931-7085, or email at [email protected].
