As part of VyStar's fifth annual Good is everywhere celebration, the inaugural Good Starts Here Food Drive brought together members, employees and community partners across 76 branches in Florida and Georgia throughout August. Each branch supported a local food bank or hunger-relief organization, helping provide 17,876 meals for neighbors in need.
At VyStar's Ormond Beach branch, that collective impact became deeply personal. The branch partnered with Provision Packs, a nonprofit that helps ensure local children have reliable meals on weekends. Moved by the organization's mission, one VyStar member made an anonymous $1,000 donation.
The member shared with Jaime Strickland, Branch Vice President, that he also helps cover children's swim lessons through the local YMCA and believes in using his blessings to help others.
"He shared he did the same thing at our local YMCA to pay for youth swim lessons. He has been blessed and wants to continue blessing others. It was hard to hold back tears as he gave me that donation," Jaime said. His generosity deeply moved the branch team and served as a powerful reminder that one conversation can inspire an extraordinary act of kindness.
Ormond Beach Branch employees pictured from left to right: Eloy Franchella (Relationship Specialist I), Marcus Manalo (Relationship Specialist I), Amber Lundt (Assistant Branch Manager), Rosey Burton (Relationship Specialist II) and Jamie Strickland (Branch Vice President II)
From food donations to unexpected acts of kindness, the inaugural Good Starts Here Food Drive proved that small actions can create a lasting impact. Together, we helped provide thousands of meals, support local hunger-relief organizations and strengthen the communities we call home, demonstrating that doing good starts with each of us.
Watch the Impact in Action
Take a look at the 2026 Good is everywhere recap video and discover how employees, members and community partners united to support our communities.