FOCUS ON FAITH

Tomoka Christian Church celebrates ribbon cutting of new thrift store, food pantry

Located within the church's Ormond Beach campus at 1440 Hand Ave., the Tomoka Care Facility is a two-story building spanning 20,000 square feet.

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Tomoka Christian Church cut the ribbon on its new Tomoka Care Facility on Monday, Sept. 14, celebrating the completion of the $6 million project that the church hopes will allow it to better serve the community.

Located within the church's Ormond Beach campus at 1440 Hand Ave., the Tomoka Care Facility is a two-story building spanning 20,000 square feet. It houses the new Tomoka Thrift store, which opened its doors on Aug. 31, as well as the church's food pantry. It also includes some church administrative space on the second floor. 

Tomoka Christian Church lead pastor Joe Putting said they have been "blessed" in so many ways. 

"It's not just the buildings," he said. "It's the church. It's the souls that have been saved. It's the worship that goes on. The people that get fed."

Tomoka Christian Church broke ground on its Tomoka Care Facility in March 2025. The project was completed several months ahead of schedule and $100,000 under budget, Putting said. It was funded by church members' donations.

The church's original food pantry spanned 900 square feet and served about 400 families a month. The church now anticipates that number to double.

"We didn't build this as a monument," he said as he offered a prayer. "We built it for the same reason we built the other building — to be more useful to the kingdom of God, to minister to more people, to care about the needs of people, to help more people find Jesus in the process of that."

Ormond Beach Mayor-elect Lori Tolland attended the ribbon cutting. She congratulated the church on its expansion.

"Today's ribbon cutting represents so much more than a larger building," she said. "It represents more people being served, more families being helped, and more lives being touched. By doubling the size of this wonderful ministry, Tomoka Christian Church will now be able to serve hundreds of additional families each month."

Tolland also commended the church for its mission work, which is funded through proceeds from the thrift store. Currently, the church has mission teams in Oklahoma and Philadelphia. On Nov. 1, a team will leave for Egypt. 

"This is truly a beautiful example of your faith in action, having neighbors caring for those in need and extending God's generosity far beyond our backyard," Tolland said.

Since the building was constructed, the church relocated its Tomoka Thrift store, formerly A Second Blessing, from an off-site storefront on South Nova Road. The thrift store sells clothing, house items, books, decor and more. Tomoka Thrift is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and it is closed on Sundays.

Donations are accepted daily, except from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Sundays. 

The food pantry is open from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, as well as 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday. It is closed Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

 

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