Palatka nonprofits seek steady city support; homeless-services group requests $86,000 for overnight staffing and new programs

Several local nonprofits asked the Palatka City Commission during the July 10 budget workshop for ongoing financial support and in-kind assistance.

Feed the Need of Putnam County representatives told the commission the group provides weekend backpacks for more than 800 children identified as food insecure during the school year and operates summer meal programs when funding allows. “Kids can't learn when they're hungry,” speaker Stacy Isold said, and staff estimated the annual in-kind and donated food value at more than $350,000. Feed the Need asked the city to consider assistance to offset rising food costs; a public commenter, Steve Crowley, suggested a modest $2,000 contribution.

Georgia Mitchell of the Putnam County Caring Coalition, which operates a temporary overnight safe space, said the group has received city COVID-related overhead support but needs ongoing help. Mitchell said the program recently surpassed 28,000 hours of service and is turning away one guest some nights; she said overnight staffing costs run about $86,000 a year and the coalition plans two new programs in the coming fiscal year: traditional transitional housing and a diversion program to help people pay small sums to avoid eviction. “We had to have someone there every night. That cost by itself comes in about $86,000 a year,” Mitchell said.

Palatka PAL (Police Athletic League) representatives described mentoring, summer camp, esports, athletics and an opioid-awareness mentoring program funded by a US Department of Justice award. PAL said this summer it serves about 115 campers, 90 basketball participants and 109 youth in its mentoring program and asked the commission for direct funding, matching funds for grants and in-kind support such as field use and transportation.

The Family Life Center asked the commission for $35,000 to support a return to full operations and provide free public swim hours, lessons and senior classes at an 80,000-square-foot facility on Palatka's North Side. The presenter said Phase 1 of the facility opened in February 2002 and the center hosts the city's back-to-school giveaway and other community events.

Episcopal Children's Services (ECS) requested $3,000; ECS said a $3,000 local contribution would generate roughly $47,000 in federal funds and another $3,000 in state match for school-readiness subsidies, “a total return of $50,000 for your $3,000,” speaker Britney Spangler said.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions and several said they would consider increasing nonprofit line items during budget deliberations. No formal funding decisions were made at the workshop.