On Jan. 19, Gifts of Love, the local distribution center of Second Harvest for the Edgewater-New Smyrna Beach area, received two truckloads of food. Last year, Second Harvest provided nearly 58 million meals to families, children and seniors in central Florida. Their distribution and community partners make it possible for them to get food to people who need it the most. Edgewater-New Smyrna Beach Elks Lodge #1557 is one of these partners with Gifts of Love and many lodge members volunteer on Tuesdays and Thursdays to distribute food to those in need. On Jan. 19, lodge members helped unload and distribute this unscheduled food delivery to families of U.S. Coast Guard members located in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., who needed food assistance during the government shutdown.
Edgewater-New Smyrna Beach Elk volunteer Barbara Meeks helps open and sort pallets of food for distribution to families of U.S. Coast Guard members during the government shutdown.