Arti Velez waited patiently in a long line Monday morning at the Flagler County Airport. She was No. 212.

  • Farm Share brought food to Flagler County for 600 families
  • The food is for Hurricane Matthew victims
  • About 40 volunteers helped pack cars with the food

"This hurricane was very detrimental to the entire Palm Coast (area), and it hit my family very hard," Velez said.

Velez said her family waited days for power to be restored at their home after Hurricane Matthew passed through the area. The loss of power spoiled the food, and that brought her to the Farm Share's food distribution.

"Upon me returning home, it was very hard on it," she said. "No power, your food is very spoiled and you just see you lost a lot of your personal belongings. ... I had to go to Sam's Club and spent almost $400."

Velez was just one of hundreds who showed up for help from Farm Share. Despite power being restored across Flagler County, many people were without full panties and refrigerators.

Cars pulled into the airport as 40 volunteers packed their cars with bags and boxes of food.

Paul Smallwood, director of Northeast Florida Farm Share, said they packed enough food in their large red truck to feed about 600 families. He said there are many more people who need food, though.

"Judging by the big turnout, that lets me know that there may be other people out there that didn't know about today and need service," Smallwood said.

Rep. Paul Renner (R), of District 24, added: "This is an effort — as much as we can do today, and we'll have an opportunity to do it again — is to get peoples' lives back to normal and to get those refrigerators and freezers full again."

Velez said she's "just so grateful."