The countdown is on for Putnam County football fans who have picked sides for Super Bowl LX and are ready to back up their favorite team in a unique way. Local fans of the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots are being challenged to see which team’s supporters can raise the most donations during the Super Bowl Canned Food Drive.
Sponsored by the Woman’s Club of Welaka and Long’s Log Cabin Bar & Package in Welaka, the food drive invites supporters to bring canned goods to Long’s Log Cabin Bar, located at 699 Third Ave. Donors are encouraged to place their contributions in the team-themed box of their choice on the front porch. The team with the most donations will be announced once the drive concludes.
The canned goods collected will be distributed to the Bread of Life soup kitchen in Palatka and God’s Kitchen, a nonprofit, faith-based ministry that delivers hot meals to seniors who are disabled and homebound.
Felicia Stalder, public relations coordinator for the Woman’s Club, and her husband, Rick Stalder, have already chosen their winner for the coveted game. “The Seahawks are going to barrel through the Patriots,” Felicia said with a smile. “It’s their due time. It absolutely is.” The Stalders predicted a final score of 24-10 in favor of Seattle, confident the Seahawks will take home the Vince Lombardi trophy.
“We think that will be a good score,” Felicia added. “We mainly like the Jaguars and the Cincinnati Bengals. We are originally from Cincinnati and moved to Putnam County seven years ago.”
On the other hand, Tonya and Waylon Long, owners of Long’s Log Cabin Bar, have picked the Patriots to win. “Since our team, Tampa Bay, is not in the running this year, we have chosen the Patriots,” Tonya Long said. A football fan since her husband served in the military, Tonya predicts a closer game with a score of 38-32 in favor of the Patriots.
The Super Bowl, considered the biggest single event in U.S. sports, will feature two teams each boasting 14 wins, three losses, and no ties. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, south of San Francisco Bay.
Long’s Log Cabin Bar, equipped with 12 TVs both inside and outside, has planned a big game watch party with free appetizers served until 11 p.m.
Organizers are encouraging the community to participate in the food drive, emphasizing the important work done by the beneficiary organizations. The Bread of Life serves hot lunches Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 320 N. Fifth St. in Palatka. Donations are accepted weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and monetary gifts can be mailed to Bread of Life, P.O. Box 1183, Palatka, FL 32178.
God’s Kitchen provides two meals on Mondays and Thursdays to ensure seniors have enough food for five days a week. Donations can be dropped off at 2000 Silver Lake Drive in Palatka from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, or mailed to God’s Kitchen, P.O. Box 36, Palatka, FL 32178.
As of Wednesday, Tonya Long reported that donations for both teams are neck-and-neck, and she hopes for an even bigger turnout. “People forget the needs are still there, especially after the holidays, and these places need to restock their shelves,” she said. “The need never goes away.”
Regardless of which team wins Sunday’s game, Felicia Stalder and Tonya Long agree that something more important is at stake. “There will be a Super Bowl winner,” Felicia said, “but Putnam County will be the winner with these donations to help people in need.”
https://www.palatkadailynews.com/local-news/big-game-food-drive-benefit-those-need