Local church helps food pantry in wake of hurricane

Sometimes friendships arise from difficult circumstances — but those connections still can have positive results.

Fred Bekemeyer came to know Phil and Mary Prescott through Bekemeyer’s late brother, John, who was friends with the couple. When John became sick earlier this year, Fred Bekemeyer and his wife, Gwen, became acquainted with the Prescotts, who traveled frequently from Cedar Key to Clermont to spend time with John and Amy Bekemeyer.

John died in July, and his best friend and fishing buddy, Phil Prescott, returned to Central Florida to officiate at the funeral service.

Last week, Fred Bekemeyer was able to show his appreciation by doing something for his new friend.

Phil and Mary Prescott operate Cedar Key Food Pantry in the small Gulf Coast island community of 750 full-time residents. When Hurricane Idalia hit Florida Aug. 30, it destroyed much of the island and flooded many residences and businesses, including the food pantry.

Fred Bekemeyer, pastor of Fellowship Bible Church, on Hiawassee Road in Orlando, jumped into action when he learned what happened to the Prescotts’ pantry.

“Watching the devastation that came from the hurricane, we reached out to our assembly, Fellowship Bible Church, and we’ve had a remarkable response, I think, for a small fellowship like we have,” Fred Bekemeyer said. “On Sunday, people (were) bringing in nonperishables … and we’ve had several financial donations.”

He estimated 200 pounds of canned goods, plus water, baby necessities and clothing, were donated — enough to fill two SUVs.

This contribution will greatly help the Prescotts get the pantry operating again.

“Our community … is heavily populated with what I would comfortably call the working poor,” Phil Prescott said. “Many are not on food stamps but are hard-working people. … We have a food pantry that provides them with a week’s worth of food every Wednesday. The last distribution, we had 106 families get food.”

The Prescotts live above the food pantry, and while the structure is sound, everything in the pantry — all of the food and equipment — was destroyed.

Fred Bekemeyer said he and Gwen plan to visit Cedar Key soon, and one of the first things they hope to do is replace one of the pantry’s freezer units.

“If they can get that up and running, we can begin an outreach of sending perishable items,” he said.

Phil Prescott said another source has joined in to help. Seacoast Bank, which recently opened a branch in Cedar Key, has set up an account to assist with disaster relief.

Cedar Key’s economy is based on aquaculture, Phil Prescott said.

“We farm clams and oysters,” he said. “If you go to Publix and buy clams, I planted some of those clams. Ninety percent of the clams produced in the state of Florida come from Cedar Key. … It was affected by the hurricane. Everything comes to a screeching halt, and the farmers who are making a living are not making a paycheck.

“The funds we receive that exceed what we need to rebuild and restock (the food pantry) will be given as grants to people as they need to rebuild and restore whatever,” he said. “One of the biggest producers of clams lost their entire home. They have nothing.”

Phil Prescott said every business on the island has closed and a significant number of them, mainly restaurants, are service oriented.

“I talked to a restaurant owner … and he said financially he’s stable and he’ll be OK,” Phil Prescott said. “But he has a long-term loyal staff who needs the paycheck, so he has to get back in business for them. … It’s pretty dire here, but if you walk the streets with me here, you’ll be greeted with smiles and everybody will be OK.”

“We were so pleased that we were able to do something that was so helpful to them,” Fred Bekemeyer said. “And, hopefully, we can do some things in the future.”

Fred and John Bekemeyer grew up in Winter Garden. John Bekemeyer started Fellowship Bible Church, and Fred Bekemeyer is senior pastor.