Putnam turning pink to support cancer awareness | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Deborah Johnson and Lucy May of Pink Out Putnam sit at their table inside Hitchcock’s supermarket in East Palatka on Saturday.
The front lawn of the Woman’s Club of Palatka is festooned with a big pink sign and signature flamingos in observance of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
A tip jar is on display to raise money to support people fighting cancer.
Positively Putnam FL

Ginger Danto

Special to the Daily News

It is by now common knowledge October, known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, brings flamingo sightings to Putnam County.

The bright pink birds turn up everywhere – on residential lawns, business properties, driveways and fairgrounds. They can be found grazing on manicured lawns or tucked into landscaped shrubbery.

One day they’re there; the next they’re gone, only to land somewhere else.

“Because flocks fly,” Mindy Estep said matter-of-factly.

And she would know. As president of the Woman’s Club of Palatka, Estep is the committee director of Pink Out Putnam, a breast cancer awareness organization that deploys pink flamingos throughout the county to anyone willing to pay for the privilege.

The term for this transaction is getting “flocked” or “pinked out.” For a standard donation of $100, Estep’s group will install anywhere from three to 25 of the free-standing plastic birds in a designated area, along with signs, ribbons and other pink-themed décor highlighting the host’s support of the organization.

The money raised through Pink Out Putnam assists local residents in need of testing, transportation and/or treatment for breast cancer.

“All of our money stays local,” said Ruth E. Haper, president of the Welaka Woman’s Club, where Pink Out Putnam originated in 2014. Eventually, the Woman’s Club of Crescent City joined in so there is now a consortium of three woman’s clubs involved in the organization.

“It is a great service to the community for those who can’t afford medical care,” Haper said.

Haper was on hand Saturday at Hitchcock’s Markets in East Palatka as part of a contingent of Pink Out Putnam volunteers bagging groceries for tips. The tip jars were filling up fast due to the generosity of Hitchcock’s clients, said Haper, who had seen a few large bills go in.

“We will probably have our best year yet,” Welaka Woman’s Club member Deborah Johnson said, supervising a table of Pink Out Putnam paraphernalia installed at the store entryway. “But the need is also great and growing.”

According to Johnson, as of Oct. 1, Pink Out Putnam assisted 61 clients who applied for assistance with medical expenses related to their breast cancer diagnoses.

A large percentage of donations come from breast cancer survivors who want to give back. Giving back is also what motivates everyday shoppers, Hitchcock’s store manager Missy Hall said.

“We have the best customers,” Hall said.

Hitchcock’s participates in a number of local charity events, but for Pink Out Putnam, the store brings out all the stops, such as curating a special display table with pink-themed edibles and even alcohol.

“What they are doing is for a very good cause and we want to support in every way we can,” Hall said.

While Pink Out Putnam has become known for availing sponsors of its signature ambassador flamingos – items that will be stored on Estep’s property for their 11 months of dormancy – the group collaborates with other cancer support organizations, including the Putnam Cancer First Fund.

“I can’t say enough good things about Pink Out Putnam,” said San Mateo resident and Woman’s Club member Gina Sims, who was recently tapped to chair the fund’s annual benefit. “They are a perfect example of how well-intentioned efforts that start small can turn into something great.”