Community gathers to give food to those in need

Dozens of vehicles lined U.S. 17 in Palatka on Wednesday afternoon as a food distribution organization hosted its annual Thanksgiving food giveaway. 

Epic-Cure Inc., which has numerous giveaways weekly throughout Putnam County, planned to give out about 100,000 pounds of food to people in need. The food distribution took place from 1–4 p.m., with cars pulling up to different stations to receive different types of food. 

Sunny Mulford, Epic-Cure’s executive director, is no stranger to food distribution events, but she said Wednesday’s event was special because volunteers from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and other organizations showed up to help. 

“There’s something special about the community, the sheriff’s office, coming out to help us during holiday times,” Mulford said. “The food is wonderful, but it's the community coming together.”

Wednesday’s giveaway was open to anyone who needed food. Mulford said people from Putnam, Alachua, Bradford and Clay counties attend Epic-Cure’s other giveaways, so she was sure the people who showed up Wednesday came from other counties. 

Epic-Cure has three weekly giveaways from Friday to Sunday that are by appointment only, but Mulford said there are three other giveaways in Crescent City, Pomona Park and Palatka. 

“We do food distributions every week,” Mulford said. “In total, between those, we serve about 1,200 a week.”

Mulford said Epic-Cure plans to continue its mission in Putnam County, but the organization is in need of financial support. Epic-Cure has the volunteers needed to continue its operation, she said, but inflation has taken its toll.

Whatever money Epic-Cure receives won’t be spent on food, Mulford said, but it will help the nonprofit in other areas. 

“We are actually in need of financial support,” Mulford said. “We don’t spend a dollar on food. All of (the food) is rescued food or turkey donations.” 

For information about volunteering, food giveaways or donating, visit Epic-Cure.org.