Flagler County organizations are trying to help the homeless by providing much-needed supplies.
- Emmanuel's Closet builds blessing bags for the homeless
- Needs donations and the help of local businesses
For Dave Campbell, Emmanuel's Closet has been a huge blessing, from food to clothing to hygiene products.
"I've been coming here for months now. Being out in the woods it's not easy," said Campbell.
Campbell is homeless, and he said something as simple as toothpaste is not easy to come by.
"It's not like it just jumps out of the store and says 'take me,'" said Campbell.
Many people depend on Emmanuel's Closet for help. The founder, Brandi Fowler, says every first Saturday of the month, people are lined outside the door waiting to get things to survive.
That's why this homeless-helping boutique and the United Way for Flagler Women's Initiative are stepping in with free blessing bags.
"Seeing the smile on their face and the hygiene bags, although they don't seem like a big deal to us, they really are to someone in that situation," said Campbell.
On Wednesday, volunteers packed the bags with shampoo, soap, toothbrushes and more.
But it takes more than just the pink bins to make everything possible. The organizations need businesses' help.
"There is a big need, yes. We've only got three businesses and got 40 bins to give out," said Cindi Dalecki with United Way of Flagler Women's Initiative.
The goal is to fill 500 of the bags with products so the hundreds of homeless and struggling families, like Campbell, can make the one blessing go a long way.
"It's God’s blessing to us," said Campbell.
The bag donations will be collected and donated throughout the year. If you would like to help the organizations by putting a bin at your local business in Flagler County, or make a monetary donation, you can contact Emmanuel's Closet via Facebook.