BUNNELL, Fla. – Flagler Volunteer Services, Inc. has spent the past year doing far more than coordinating volunteers — the organization has become a lifeline for literacy, disaster recovery, community connection and nonprofit support throughout Flagler County.
During a recent presentation, Executive Director Suzy Gamblain highlighted the organization’s growth, impact and the volunteers who continue to power its mission.
“At our core, our mission is to meet community needs and fill in the gaps,” Gamblain explained. “A lot of times when we see a gap, we create a program to help fill it — and those programs stay with us for years to come.”
One of the organization’s largest areas of impact remains emergency support services and disaster response. Flagler Volunteer Services serves as the county’s Emergency Support Function 15 lead, coordinating volunteers and donations during disasters. Staff members work directly from the Emergency Operations Center during storms and recovery efforts.
Gamblain said the organization continues to assist residents affected by Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, often staying involved long after the immediate crisis fades.
“What I like to say with disasters is we come in first and we stay last,” she said. “After everybody else has left the EOC, we’re still looking at needs and trying to find ways to meet them.”
The agency’s commitment to preparedness also expanded through numerous trainings over the past year, including Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes, CPR instruction and disaster-response education. One volunteer who completed crisis cleanup training immediately went on to assist storm victims in Wisconsin through a national hotline system.
Gamblain said that story perfectly captured the purpose behind the organization’s work.
“Our trainings don’t just impact our community,” she said. “They can go far beyond us.”
The organization’s ReadingPals literacy program also continued to transform lives for both students and volunteers. During the school year, 64 volunteers worked one-on-one with 113 students from VPK through third grade to help improve reading skills and confidence.
“We want children to love reading,” Gamblain said. “If they enjoy reading, they’ll read more. If they read more, they’ll get better.”
Volunteers themselves often experience the rewards as deeply as the students. Gamblain shared a quote from one 80-year-old volunteer who described ReadingPals as the most meaningful experience of her life.
Another long-running success story is the Giving Store, a volunteer-driven holiday program allowing children in kindergarten through fifth grade to select and wrap gifts for family members at no cost. Last year alone, 95 volunteers helped 330 children shop for approximately 1,700 gifts.
The organization’s Blanketeers program also distributed comfort items throughout the community, with 27 volunteers creating 790 handmade items distributed to 15 locations.
Flagler Volunteer Services also continued supporting nonprofits through its SWAT Team volunteers, who assist local organizations with special events and fundraisers.
Looking ahead, the organization is preparing to launch a new online volunteer portal designed to streamline volunteer opportunities countywide. The platform will connect volunteers directly with organizations, track hours and create a centralized hub for community engagement.
Gamblain said the new initiative represents the future of volunteer coordination in Flagler County.
“It’s going to make us so much more effective,” she said. “This will put everything in one spot and make volunteerism more visible for the entire community.”
