Fill the Boat

Members of the Flotilla 95, Marco Island, partnered with Winn-Dixie and Our Daily Bread Food Pantry (ODBFP) on March 27 to raise awareness for food safety, collect food donations, and raise funds for the local Marco Community in need of food assistance.

“This tradition marks the fifth year of a marvelous partnership with volunteers from Our Daily Bread Food Pantry (ODBFP) and US Coast Guard Flotilla 95, Marco Island, with leadership and guidance from a professional management team at Winn-Dixie,” said Richard Hurd of Flotilla 95. “As the US Coast Guard Auxiliary looks forward to celebrating its 60th Anniversary in April (chartered April 30, 1967), supporting the Marco Island Community in April with events like Fill the Boat focuses our attention and volunteer resources on our special partnerships within the community. Typically, our volunteers dedicate thousands of hours annually to teaching boater safety classes, annual free vessel exams, safety patrols on the water in the Ten Thousand Islands, boater safety information at the Marco Farmers Market, but our work with partners like marinas, yacht clubs, cruise clubs, boat sales and service companies, marine retailers, and local marine law enforcement are paramount to our missions each day.”

“We take great pride in working with and supporting local community leaders like ODBFP and Winn-Dixie,” Hurd added. “There are nine Flotillas located in Southwest Florida, and Flotilla 95 has consistently, for the last three years, led all Flotillas in number of students taught, vessel exams, and partner visitation; we owe that boater safety record to the entire Marco Island Community.”

There was a steady flow of customers into Winn-Dixie and around noon, the Fill the Boat Food Drive volunteers were busy taking in bags of donated food and also cash donations. Many thanks to Winn-Dixie’s management, especially Abi Serrano, Joe Benson, and members of their staff, Joseph, Martha, Aide, Jordan, and Manuel. This is Abi’s third year as manager for this Winn-Dixie Marco location, but he has been with the company for over ten years. 

“This is our fifth annual Fill the Boat Food and Cash Drive hosted by the USCG Flotilla 95 and Winn-Dixie and it is looking like a spring tradition,” said Ron McClay of ODBFP. “Last year, they collected over 1,500 pounds of non-perishable food items.

“Winn Dixie was matching up to 1,000 pounds of the donated groceries,” added Gabby Stigall, a volunteer for ODBFP.

Earlier in the year, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry celebrated its 10th anniversary and in November 2025, moved into its new home on 1818 San Marco Road.

ODBFP opened its doors in 2016 as a mission of the Family Church, inspired by five founders who were moved to act after learning that local children were coming to school hungry.