DAYTONA BEACH — Downtown residents in Daytona Beach who rely on church food pantries for their sustenance can breathe a sigh of relief. After being ordered to shut down last month due to alleged violations, First Christian Church has been given permission to resume its food pantry distributions immediately. The situation for Seventh Day Baptist Church is more complex, but attorney Chobee Ebbets, who is representing the church, is hopeful that an agreement can be reached with the city to reopen their pantry soon.
The food pantries at both churches have been a lifeline for impoverished and elderly residents in the downtown area who don’t have access to transportation or enough money to cover their grocery bills. The closure of the pantries left many residents with empty cupboards and refrigerators at home.
First Christian Church, located on Palmetto Avenue, has been operating its food pantry since 2010. The pantry provides essential items such as canned goods, tuna, soup, and cereal. The church receives most of its supplies from Second Harvest Food Bank. The pantry is open on the third and fourth Fridays of every month, and around 80-100 people visit each time it’s available.
The closure of the food pantries was due to a city code that prohibits food pantries in Daytona Beach’s Downtown Community Redevelopment Area. However, the city does make exceptions for food pantries that were established before July 20, 2011. The city’s aim in banning food pantries in redevelopment areas is to avoid negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods.
Attorney Chobee Ebbets, whose law office is located between the two churches, is working pro bono to help resolve the situation. He is currently trying to get the city to lift the mandate for Seventh Day Baptist Church to appear before a special magistrate next week. If an agreement cannot be reached, Ebbets is prepared to sue the city.
Despite the challenges they face, both churches remain determined to continue providing for those in need. The pastors and congregations believe it is their duty to follow the teachings of Jesus and spread love to the community.
The reopening of First Christian Church’s food pantry brings hope to the downtown residents who rely on its services. As for Seventh Day Baptist Church, they remain optimistic that a resolution will be reached soon so they can resume their pantry operations and continue supporting the community.
