Flagler Cares Neighbors Helping Neighbors Raises Funds For Families

Flagler Broadcasting to host 3-hour Help-A-Thon fundraiser to support Flagler Cares' Barrier Fund

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Flagler Broadcasting will host the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Help-A-Thon this Friday to raise $25,000 for the Flagler Cares Barrier Fund. The event, simulcast on four local stations, encourages businesses to donate in-kind services and funds to help residents overcome sudden life-derailing obstacles. By providing "hand up" assistance rather than permanent welfare, the initiative seeks to stabilize families and foster a self-sustaining local community.

Why it matters

The Barrier Fund is in line with the mission of Flagler Cares, the nonprofit that provides behavioral and mental health counseling, helps clients navigate benefits, and removes one-time barriers to help people get back on their feet. The Help-A-Thon aims to build awareness of Flagler Cares' work and rally the local community to support each other rather than relying on outside funding.

The details

For at least three hours starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Flagler Broadcasting will hold the Flagler Cares Neighbors Helping Neighbors Help-A-Thon to raise $25,000 and collect in-kind services from businesses and organizations to help people bridge sudden crises. The Barrier Fund provides one-time mini-grants or services to remove barriers that make it difficult for individuals to get to a job interview, see a doctor, or cover unexpected expenses like an illness or funeral. Donated services can include car repairs, plumbing, legal consultations, haircuts, and more.

  • The Help-A-Thon will take place this Friday, March 5, 2026 starting at 9 a.m.
  • Flagler Cares marked its 10-year anniversary as an organization last summer.

The players

Flagler Cares

A nonprofit social service and care-coordinating organization that provides behavioral and mental health counseling, helps clients navigate benefits, and removes one-time barriers to help people get back on their feet.

Carrie Baird

The CEO of Flagler Cares.

David Ayres

The president of Flagler Broadcasting, which is hosting the Help-A-Thon.

Dr. Stephen Bickel

The medical director at the Flagler County Health Department and a major backer of Flagler Cares.

Bob Snyder

The former administrator of the Flagler County Health Department who served on the Flagler Cares board.

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What they’re saying

“What we're trying to do is provide whole person care. No matter what someone's challenges bring them to us, we try to understand their whole experience, so that it's not transactional. We're not just addressing whatever the need is that's described to us. We're trying to get to know them and understand the broader needs they might have.”

— Carrie Baird, CEO, Flagler Cares (flaglerlive.com)

“This isn't long-term type support. It's just a few dollars to get their kids some clothes that they haven't had any new clothes for a while, or to fix a tire, to to help keep the electric bill on for one month to get them back on track. All these short term needs that people really have. We can do something to help with that.”

— David Ayres, President, Flagler Broadcasting (flaglerlive.com)

What’s next

The Help-A-Thon will continue past the initial 3-hour mark if the $25,000 fundraising goal is reached, in order to help as many people as possible.

The takeaway

The Flagler Cares Neighbors Helping Neighbors Help-A-Thon highlights how a local nonprofit is working to provide a 'hand up' to residents facing sudden crises, rather than just temporary handouts, in order to help stabilize families and build a more self-sustaining community.