Video by Sera Frederick & photos by Henry Frederick / Eric Ignasiak, who served two tours in the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan, didn't wait for Thanksgiving to help feed the homeless. A full week before the national holiday, the 29-year-old Edgewater man enlisted the help of his employer, Chases on the Beach and several other restaurants, as well as a cavalcade of volunteer cooks and servers, including New Smyrna Beach firefighters. Ignasiak's efforts led to the feeding of 500 people at the Brannon Center. He even got a mop and led the clean-up afterwards as shown above.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Eric Ignasiak of Edgewater took shrapnel to his mouth in Iraq that makes eating difficult.
He took his fight from the battlefields there and in Afghanistan to another battlefield much closer to home as he puts it: "The War on Hunger."
He put his money where his mouth is and carried out his latest mission: Feeding 500 needy people a week before Thanksgiving in one setting. For his selfless duty to mankind on the homefront, Eric Ignasiak is the inaugural NSBNews.net Citizen of the Year.
Ignasiak's weeks of rallying restaurants, cooks, sponsors and volunteers came to fruition with a massive feeding at the Brannon Center for as many as 500 people, predominantly homeless, poor families with young children and the elderly, many among the latter of who struggle to survive on social security.
At left, the trays are lined up with hot food. In the smaller photo, a homeless woman checks out the dessert offerings, including fresh fruit and creme-filled pastries.
"I didn't want to wait for Thanksgiving," the 29-year-old Marine veteran said of his decision to carry out his charitable event a full week before the national holiday. "People are hungry every day. Not just Thanksgiving."
At far left, New Smyrna Beach firefighters do the bulk of cooking in the kitchen with food from the best restaurants in greater New Smyrna Beach. At near left, this elderly couple enjoys the food. The smaller photo shows some of the decorative ornaments.
Ignasiak gathered up 90 turkeys, begging and clawing wherever he needed, not literally, but as he said, it's hard to say no to a marine. He had enough food for 600 people, so there were plenty of leftovers for those who enjoyed a fresh meal at the Brannon Center to take home with them.
Being organized and focused is nothing new to Ignasiak a Marine sergeant with second forces reconnaissance in Iraq in 2001 for 18 months and in Afghanistan in 2003 for a year as well as six months in the Horn of Africa, stationed in Tunisia and Sierra Leone.
His feeling is "We're fighting the war on terror so why not fight the war on hunger?"
In order to carry out his "feeding mission" Ignasiak enlisted people like Maggie Toro, owner of Chases on the Beach to go with him to the city and obtain the necessary permits.
He had four weeks to get the message out and enlisted others as well, including his father, Mike Ignasiak, former Edgewater Police Chief and currently a police instructor at Daytona State College
Also of great help to the younger Ignasiak was Keith Meyer of Chases who got NASCAR involved in donating food.
Besides Chases, other restaurants the Flagler Tavern, Flip Flops, The Garlic, P,J.s Snack Shop, Norwoods, and New Smyrna Steak House. Ignasiak got the word out about the dinner by contacting Family Promise of Volusia County, F.R.O.G. Ministries, Hope-in-Hand, Halifax Urban Ministries, Evangelist Outreach Ministries and the United Way of Volusia County.
Chases on the Beach Manager Axel Giaccone was informed of Ignasiak's recognition Monday night. On behalf of Toro, Giaccone had high praise for Ignasiak, saying: "He was very committed to the public and helping the homeless. He was very diligent."
Honorable Mentions for 2009 NSBNews.net Citizen of the Year:
New Smyrna Beach Police PAL officer Davvid Adkins and New Smyrna Beach firefighter Clayton Crain.