ORANGE PARK – A week ago the shelves were almost bare at the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry of Orange Park.

With the help of a $25,000 check from State Farm, now they’re fully stocked.

That means needy families will be able to eat. It means volunteers will be able to provide help to 100 additional residents compared to a year ago. But more than anything else, it was the result of a community working to find solutions.

“All of the money will go to food,” said volunteer Anita Aultman, who crafted a grant proposal as part of the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program. “It will fly out of here fast.”

The program invited nonprofits to apply for a piece of the $2.5 million being offered to recognized the insurance company’s 100th anniversary. More than 4,000 applied, and the Orange Park organization finished among the top 100 in national voting.

Local and corporate officials from State Farm stopped at the pantry at 1010 Fromhart St. Tuesday for the official check presentation. They were impressed with how the money will be spent.

“I mean I'll be honest with you I've been in the area off and on probably 20 years and didn't know that this organization existed,” said State Farm’s Bryon Estrada, who works in the Southeastern Market Field Leadership program. “To me, you know, we'd like to be great neighbors, and especially partnering up with organizations like this that are giving back.

“For us, it's a a huge privilege and honor to partner up with these great organizations that are doing such great things.”

According to pantry president Mandy Nelson, the number of residents who utilize the opportunity to pick up free clothing, household goods and food has grown from 795 adults in 2021 to 944 – so far – this year. More critical are the needs of children, which grew from 1,474 a year ago to 1,885 this year.

On Tuesday, three new families were signing up for benefits during the State Farm visit. The Pantry is open from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday-through-Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on the first three Saturdays of the month.

There already has been an increase of 812 food orders this year, which has led to the need for an 855-hour increase in volunteer hours.

Food has been, and always will be, the most-wanted items, Aultman said.

“We will be able to get more of our core items,” she said. “The shelves are filling up this week. And we’re helping 100 more clients than we were last year. The demand has gone up every day. We’re seeing about 15 to 20 families a day, so you can understand the significance of a contribution like that. It’s huge.”

Local State Farm agents Barbara Coleman and Joe McGhee were part of the presentation. So were Florida Rep. Sam Garrison and representatives from U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack’s and Florida Sen. Jennifer Bradley’s office.

The Pantry was represented by Nelson and Aultman, as well as vice presidents Kathy Wray and Carole Bright and board members David Theus and Chuck Smithers.

“I loved coming here and getting to know all this,” Estrada said. “It’s a blessing to know there are people like this in our community.”

To make a donation or to inquire about needs, residents can call (904) 264-5239.