BUNNELL, Fla. – Helping families in Flagler County offset everyday needs, the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Outreach Ministries hosted their fifth annual Unity in the Community event on May 20th.
Taking over the outdoor facilities at GW Carver Community Center, Pastors Alonzo and Joretta Cooks created a welcoming atmosphere for families in need.
“This is just one of our outreach events. We reach out and provide things that are needed for the community and to meet the needs of some of our neighbors and friends in the community,” said Pastor Alonzo. “I think that the need is greater in this community, being one of the rural areas of our county, I think this is where we can be of more service.”
Providing clothing, food, and other household necessities, in addition to bicycles donated and assembled by The Bike Men of Flagler County, all at no cost, Pastor Alonzo Cooks said their congregation was more than happy to help support the community.
“As you can see, a lot of people coming up on bicycles which means they don’t have transportation, they are more than likely missing some of the basic essentials of living and that’s what we try to provide,” he said. “They are very happy, outgoing, ready to step up to meet the needs of the community because at New Beginnings we teach that it is better to give than to receive.”
Connecting services from cradle to adulthood, agencies included SMA providing mental health and addiction services, Early Learning Coalition of Volusia-Flagler focusing on early age literacy, and Mr. and Ms. Mentor, a program supporting mental health and providing guidance for youth.
“We provide mental health services as well as case management and mentoring, servicing the at-risk community which is also the low income,” said Derrick Collins, program director and CEO. “We provide one-on-one services to kids who are having behavioral issues at school and in the community, are involved in DJJ, the court system and foster care.”
“For a lot of our families, we are their main support,” said Collins. “A lot of times their energy has to go into providing for their family, so that additional support, somebody that can back them and provide services that they can’t really do at the time, is influential.”
Inspiration of Hope Community Resources, Inc. founder and President Donna Easterling spoke with attendees about life skill advancement and training as well as referrals to additional resources during the event.
“We primarily do life skill classes, employment training, we give away food, we help families and youth in need,” said Easterling. “Currently we’re doing our second phase of life skill classes for middle schoolers, ending on May 22 and our next life skill class will be at the youth center, September 11, 2023, and that will be for high school youth and middle schoolers.”
“We’ve seen great impact in our community, especially our youth. They’re greatly in need of the services we provide so it really is helpful. We give them an incentive. Today is a community event, so we’re out here with the community as part of the community.”
Note: A Farm Share Food Distribution, organized by Inspiration of Hope Community Resources, Inc. will take place on June 22, 2023 starting at 11 AM, at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Palm Coast. Call 386-585-3450 for more information.
