'I have to help': Volusia churches work to address hunger in coronavirus pandemic

From single mothers who struggled to feed their children to older adults who feared a trip to the grocery store would result in coronavirus infection, many have turned to churches across Volusia County for food assistance.

Since the pandemic took hold in March, the Daytona Dream Center, the outreach ministry of a local church, has distributed more than half a million pounds of food. 

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The Daytona Dream Center has partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to host drive-through food drop off events across the county. Second Harvest Food Bank sends a semi-truck with about 24 pallets of food to the events. That amounts to about 30,000 pounds of food. 

In an effort to contain the local spread of the virus, those who attend the events are asked to remain in their cars as volunteers set the food donations down in their trunks. A long line of drivers often wait at least an hour before heading home with their donations.  

The economic onslaught of the pandemic has forced more people to seek food assistance from churches and other charitable groups in Volusia County. Some suffered a financial hit when the pandemic left them out of work. Others were unable to get food themselves due to their age or their compromised immune systems, which put them at a greater risk for coronavirus infection. 

“For us, it's very important to meet that physical need," said Tanysha Hartsgrove, communications director of the Daytona Dream Center. "We feel like that’s something that God has positioned us to do.” 

Other faith-based groups have worked hard to address hunger in the county over the past few months. 

Volusia churches join to help feed community

The Kingdom Family Church of Daytona has given out more than 1,000 bags of food to Volusia County residents. As the pandemic stretched on, churches like the Kingdom Family Church of Daytona moved to collaborate with other charitable groups that would help them meet the needs of the community. The Daytona Beach church received its food supply from Halifax Urban Ministries, a nonprofit organization that serves the homeless. 

Several church leaders believe its the role of the church to provide food assistance in times of crisis. 

“It’s part of my job,” said Greg Romeo, senior minister of the Kingdom Family Church of Daytona. “It’s part of what the church should be doing. Ultimately, it’s not the government’s position to provide some of these things for the community, it’s really the churches’ position. The churches in the community should be helping the community in being a place of resource.”

In the small parking lot outside a DeBary church, volunteers hand people who have scheduled appointments their food donations. Since the onset of the pandemic, Iglesia Casa Restauración Isaías 61:1, Inc. on 41 S. Charles Richard Beall Blvd. has distributed more than 2,000 bags of food.

“I have to help,” said Manuel Cancel, who serves as pastor of the DeBary church. “No matter what, I have to help.”