Flagler Beach, FL – While in the midst of sorting non-perishable groceries and building shelves to store the food, volunteers at the Flagler Beach United Methodist Church were excited to learn of a windfall coming their way on Thursday.
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church food pantry co-chair Bill Hopson, Carl Laundrie and Bill Rosado help build shelves to stock the food pantry on Thursday, February 11, 2021.
Welcoming Golden Lion Cafe co-owner Chris Marlow, Susanne Hopson, co-chair of the church’s food pantry accepted a $2,000 donation from the Flagler Beach-based restaurant.
Raising the funds from their annual fish and chips promotion linked to purchases of their signature Key Lime Tartar sauce or the Dat’l Pepper Cocktail sauce during the last of week of January, Marlow said they have reached a milestone in the giving as a result of donating half of the proceeds from each bottle sold at Publix supermarkets and in the Golden Lion Café gift shop, to food pantries across Florida.
“We have now broken over 50,000 meals donated to feed the hungry here in the local community,” said Marlow.
After a round of regional donations during the 2020 Christmas holiday season and seeing the continued need, Marlow wanted the dollars to go directly to the Flagler Beach United Methodist Church’s food pantry to help Flagler families.
“We’re just happy to give back to the community that supports us so much,” he said.
Helping sort the grocery donations, volunteer Carol Katsolis was moved to tears by the generous donation for a cause close to her heart.
Carol Katsolis and Susanne Hopson, co-chair of the Flagler Beach United Methodist Church food pantry sort food donations from students at Old Kings Elementary School and Palm Coast Methodist Church, to help support those in need.
“It’s tremendous. Here’s a local business, it’s just great,” she said with emotion. “I think it’s really important and people are appreciative. It’s a positive thing to participate in.”
The Flagler Beach United Methodist Church offers their food pantry to Flagler County families on Thursday between 9:30 am and noon, weekly, and no appointment is necessary.
The pantry has received a number of donations in recent weeks including food collected by students at Old Kings Elementary School and from the Palm Coast Methodist Church.
“We have a pretty full pantry at the moment,” said Hopson. “It’s what supports us and keeps us going. We know there are a lot of people in the community who are in trouble.”
The Flagler Beach United Methodist Church is located at 1520 S. Daytona Avenue, Flagler Beach.

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