DAPHNE – Candllelight flickering along Captain O’Neal Drive provided beacon of unity for the Daphne neighborhood and support for the area food pantry hit by booming demands during the COVID-19 economic downturn.
Captain O’Neal district residents started May with a “Light the Night,” celebration on Thursday, April 30. The project was a fundraiser for Prodisee Pantry in Spanish Fort, Monica Anderson Young, one of the organizers, said.
“We were talking about doing a neighborhood project and we came up with ‘Light the Night,’” she said. “It’s a way to bring people together and brighten up things with the way things are right now.”
Young, Jennifer Dillard and Lizl Kok began work to make and provide luminary kits in exchange for donations to Prodisee Pantry.
“We were amazed at the response,” Dillard said. “We raised almost $3,000 for Prodisee Pantry.” Dilliard said one $20 donation to Prodisee Pantry can provide food for a family of four for a week.
Local children distributed flyers and put together kids with candles, paper bags and sand for the event.
“It was great for the kids,” Young said. “It was a home education project for them, calculating how much sand do you need for 1,500 kits.”
On the night of April 30, the edges of Captain O’Neal Drive and surrounding streets in Olde Towne Daphne were lit with the luminaries.
Young said organizers hope to expand the luminary program for the holiday season and to encourage other neighborhoods and groups to organize projects to support Prodisee Pantry.
Prodisee Pantry Executive Director Deann Servos praised the effort.
“This is an awesome idea that I hope spreads... we, at Prodisee Pantry, believe in shining a light on the invisible issue of hunger and so many are hungry right now, we want them to know we care,” Servos said. This type of community support is a true blessing… it is neighbors coming together to help their neighbors in need.”
Prodisee Pantry is a faith-based non-profit community ministry providing emergency food and disaster relief. The organization has provided assistance to over 151,050 Baldwin County families facing hardship stepping from job loss, medical expenses, natural disasters and other crises during its 17 years of service.
Anyone wanting more information on Prodisee Pantry can go to www.prodiseepantry.org. Residents wanting to organize a “Light the Night” event in their neighborhood, can email monica@assistedcommunications.com for directions and free templates.
