 Christmas food & toy drive a huge success
Volunteers pack food and gift bags for core-city children FreshMinistries, its partners and supporters created a Christmas to remember for more than 300 children living in one of Jacksonville’s severely distressed neighborhoods. The food and toy drive, organized to give the children who attend one of the core-city schools FreshMinistries has adopted as part of its 6 Point Community Initiative, succeeded in collecting and packaging food for Long Branch Elementary’s 300+ students in just one week! Every Long Branch Elementary School student, 90% of which live at or below poverty level, had a food basket filled with canned goods, non-perishable items, fresh fruit, juice boxes and more to take home for the holidays! And, although food baskets are a perfectly wonderful gift for these children and their families, Santa promised he wouldn’t forget these core-city children this year, and, as promised, he didn’t! Through the combined effort of the United States Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program and FreshMinistries’ supporters and staff members, all 300+ children attending Long Branch Elementary School not only received a food basket, but also a new toy to take home for Christmas! Santa didn’t forget the many dedicated teachers who regularly use personal funds to buy basic classroom supplies, either. *“When we presented the teachers with the gift certificates we collected to Target, they became as excited as kids on Christmas morning”* said Vicki Burke, FreshMinistries’ Director of Youth and Family Development. “I wanted to cry when they started unloading the food bags and toys. The Suburbans and trucks just kept coming one-after-another, ” said one school administrator. “The bikes, brand new toys, books, crayons – all of it was incredibly exciting. But, when I saw the gift certicates and realized that we’ll be able to buy hand sanitizers, facial tissues, paper towels and other supplies that will hopefully keep the kids free from colds and the flu this winter, I just lost it!” The staff of FreshMinistries and the children and families we serve offer a tremendous heartfelt thank you for your support in 2006 and hope that your generosity and giving spirit continues into the new year. Our initiatives educate and empower individuals to become self-sufficient members of our community. With your support, we can create communities in which every person has equal access to the educational tools, opportunities and support needed to live healthy, productive lives. If you are interested in supporting FreshMinistries’ initiatives for our core-city children, schools and community, please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
, 904.854.4444 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
, 904.355.0000.
|
