Cliff Hollingsworth is just one of the many local residents who give their time to serve the needy. Photo: Carlos Medley
“Give us today our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11 NKJV).
Members and friends of Patmos Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Apopka are answering this prayerful request for hundreds of families in central Florida. The church’s mobile food giveaway has been cited as one of the largest distribution sites in Orange County, Florida.
Twice a month, nearly 200 cars pack the church’s parking lot at around 8 a.m. Some recipients arrive as early as midnight or 1 a.m. At 8 a.m., an 18-wheel tractor trailer delivers 28 pallets filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, canned goods, baked goods, and meat. “We serve around 600 families at each session,” says Arnell Smalley, Patmos Chapel community services director. “That’s more than double the 300 families we served in 2020. At the rate we are growing, we will probably need a second food delivery.”
According to the latest available statistics, Patmos Chapel has distributed nearly 817,000 pounds of food, which translates into nearly 681,000 meals.
Grateful Hearts
On a Thursday morning at Patmos Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church, you might find nearly 200 cars waiting for the giveaway to start. Some cars arrive as early as midnight. Photo: Carlos Medley
Given the high cost of groceries, recipients are extremely thankful for the food. Michael and Mykhailio Holovina fled the war in Ukraine when their home was destroyed two years ago. Michael came to the food drive in March. “This is very important for us. I’m thankful for it,” he says. “I’m working, but there’s very little money.”
Magdalena Reyes says she had been asking God for financial help because an auto accident forced her husband to apply for disability benefits. One day, she drove by the church parking lot and noticed all the cars. When she learned about the food distribution, she knew God had answered her prayers. The food she receives not only helps her family but also enables her to help others.
The engine that drives the food giveaway is the dedicated volunteers, including many from other churches and the community. Occasionally, healthcare workers, a basketball team, local businesses, and even a city commissioner can be seen donating their time. “I’m here for the community,” says Adina Nobie, a volunteer who attends the Christian Cultural Center church, which meets at Patmos Chapel on Sundays. “I want to help because there’s such a need here. I’ve told my friends that serving is the most fun I have. Serving is so fulfilling; to know that you’ve helped others.”
Jemi Salmon, a Patmos Chapel member, has attended nearly every mobile food giveaway since January 2023. “I look forward to coming out and helping. It feels good to give back something for the community, that you’ve made a difference,” Salmon says. “I feel that I’ve accomplished something each time.”
All volunteers must comply with clothing restrictions and an annual training period mandated by The Emergency Food Assistance Program, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The volunteers at Patmos Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church's mobile food giveaway work very hard but they still find a little time for fellowship. Photo: Carlos Medley
Long History
Patmos Chapel's mobile food giveaway is an outgrowth of its longstanding food pantry, which was started by Gwendolyn Mike and Pheodora Proctor in the 1980s when the church was in Winter Park. “The church purchased a small two-room house, and we gave out food on Wednesdays,” Proctor says. “At first, we got about 12 individuals, then 40. We only handled produce. Mike organized the food, and I handled the paperwork. In time, the program grew, and Jimmy Pryor and Judy Williams joined the team. As time went on, the church secured formal arrangements with suppliers and started adding meat to the menu. In 2019, when the COVID pandemic started, the mobile food giveaway was added to the pantry service.
Today, Patmos' food pantry serves between 60 and 90 individuals twice a month, says Judith Williams, Patmos’ assistant community service director, who coordinates the pantry and trains volunteers. In her position, Williams maintains records for food shipments, persons helped, and cash flow. “We even have to keep records on temperatures in the freezer, the refrigerator, and the pantry itself for food safety,” she says. “The mobile food drive and pantry also undergo periodic audits by USDA and the 2nd Harvest Food Bank (2HFB).”
In addition to the pantry traffic and the mobile food giveaway, Williams leads a team of Patmos volunteers who provide a meal service for 300 to 400 unhoused individuals each month at the Central Florida Coalition for the Homeless in Orlando. The volunteers are responsible for cooking the food and serving it to recipients.
When asked why she took on the burden of managing the pantry and conducting meal service, Williams explained, “Meeting the needs of those less fortunate and putting a smile on their faces is motivation for me. Just seeing them [those who are unhoused] having their meals is meaningful for me. I had a family member who had been homeless, and fortunately, someone helped him. That touched my heart, and I feel compelled to give back by helping others.”
Patmos Chapel's assistant community service director Judy Williams manages the church pantry, and her team serves meals at a homeless shelter. Photo: Carlos Medley
Loyal Partners
Patmos’ success would be impossible without the help of some loyal partners. 2HFB, a nonprofit firm started by community churches, is the main supplier for the program. Serving seven counties in central Florida, the food bank delivers more than 91 million pounds of food (or 76 million meals) annually through its 750 partners, including schools, pantries, and soup kitchens.
“It takes a caring and committed community to feed our neighbors who are experiencing hunger,” says Daniel Samuels, 12HFB Director of Philanthropy. “We are grateful for the tremendous effort that Patmos Chapel puts in year-round to ensure that children, families, and seniors have the resources needed to survive and thrive.”
SALT (Service and Love Together), an Orlando ministry offering basic services to unhoused people, has also extended a helping hand to the mobile food drive. Started by Adventist young people, SALT enabled Patmos to offer showers and other basic services. “When SALT was getting its start in Apopka, we were honored to partner with Patmos Chapel, to tag on to what they are doing in the community,” says SALT President Eric Camarillo. “Patmos is making a difference in the lives of many people, and we hope to continue our partnership in impacting the unsheltered people they serve.”
Kudos
Patmos executive pastor Marvin McClean, Florida state rep. Anna Eskamani, who volunteered at the giveaway, and Patmos Community Service Director Arnel Smalley. Photo: Carlos Medley
Patmos community work has drawn the attention of local public officials and community leaders in Orange County. Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson issued a proclamation honoring Pastor James Doggette and the church’s work.
Florida State Rep. Anna Eskamani, who has volunteered, was deeply moved by the staggering number of people in need. “This is a wonderful work,” she said. “It’s touching to see so many people getting the help they need.”
“At Patmos Chapel, we are honored to make a significant difference in the community by lifting the quality of life of those in need. It’s our sacred responsibility,” Pastor Doggette says. “The Bible tells us that when you take care of the poor, you’re lending to the Lord. When people lack basic needs, God asks us to step forward.”
~Carlos Medley is Patmos Chapel's communication director.