The Southeastern Conference Adventist Community Services leaders and volunteers, along with local, regional, and state partners, collaborated on strategic initiatives to address social and economic barriers in Putnam County, Fla., during their Camp Meeting this past June. Putnam County is where the Southeastern Conference campground is located. The cities of Interlachen, Palatka (county seat), and the northern portion of Hawthorne were the focus. Based on the 2024 County Health and Wellness Coalition County Needs Assessment, Putnam County has historically poor socioeconomic conditions that place them in the worse rankings among their surrounding counties and the state of Florida. Additionally, an underlying “drug and substance use culture” and increased homelessness add to the challenges.
Months prior to the outreach events, meetings were held, data was reviewed, and local social services organizations, nonprofits, faith-based partners, businesses, and government officials were engaged to ensure efforts were in alignment with community needs.
Most importantly, the stories of those with lived experience were heard, immediate needs met, and positive relationships initiated.
On Friday of Camp Meeting, a minimum of 465 families were served, almost 40,000 (39,340) pounds of food, from the campground in Hawthorne, Fla.
During the targeted outreach initiatives in the cities of Interlachen and Palatka on the following day, they were able to offer showers to individuals experiencing housing insecurities. Hygiene kits, bags of fruits, vegetables, and non-perishable items were offered to families with economic insecurities in those selected communities.
Major partners for the outreach events included community services volunteers; SALT (Service and Love Together) Outreach; Daily Bread Distribution Center; Farm Share; Bethany Church in Palatka, Florida; Department of Health; Interlachen Church of Latter-day Saints; Palatka Christian Service Center; and Heart of Putnam. Funding was made possible in part through a grant from the Versacare Foundation.
Eric Camarillo, CEO and founder of SALT Outreach, stated, “We were honored to take part in this outreach alongside the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. What we value most is participating in outreach efforts that create a lasting impact in the community — beyond a single event — and this was certainly one of those moments. Just across the street (from the Church of Latter-day Saints where we offered showers), there was an organization that serves 100 meals a day, five days a week. In their parking lot sat a fully finished shower trailer that they’ve been working to activate, but have faced significant roadblocks with local officials. They were excited to hear we were coming, and one of their board members even attended the outreach to ask for advice on operations and overcoming their current challenges. I had the opportunity to visit and speak with the organization’s director. We prayed together, [I] encouraged him, and I offered to help advocate alongside him to local government officials if needed. Operating our trailer across the street served as a live ‘proof of concept,’ demonstrating that mobile hygiene services can be effective, beneficial to the community, and non-disruptive to surrounding neighbors.”
Frank Yapp, Ed.D., pastor of Bethany Church in Palatka, trained chaplain, mental health professional, and a retired U.S. Army combat veteran, is passionate about the people of Palatka. He stated, “We have begun a process with the hope to answer the proverbial inquiry, ‘Can these bones live?’ (Ezekiel 37:3) …. the end results will take time, endurance, patience, and a whole lot of prayerful intercessions.”
As a part of the ongoing efforts in building community capacity to serve, one month after Southeastern Camp Meeting, A Season of Service (SOS) Virtual Seminar was conducted by SALT Outreach. More than 20 volunteers and ministry leaders participated in the engaging two-hour session. Materials from the seminar were also shared with more than 170 churches in the Southeastern Conference. The seminar was designed to inspire and empower volunteers to support current or future outreach efforts for people experiencing homelessness, and demonstrate practical steps to better equip communities with sustainable solutions that lead to Hope and Wholeness.
Southeastern | October 2025
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