A great beginning for FreshMinistries' Core-city Education Plan

FreshMinistries, an ecumenical nonprofit organization, has “adopted” 7 core-city schools, daycare centers and after-school care programs as part of its “Core-city Education Plan” to help these struggling schools and after-school care programs better serve our youth. Our schools, daycare and after-school programs are all located in financially distressed lower east Jacksonville (32206 zip code area) and struggle with a 47% high school graduation rate. One of our elementary schools has 90% of its students on the state’s free or reduced food program, meaning 90% live at or below poverty level. Our student’s families do not have the financial ability to have PTO fund-raising events or community fairs to raise the money needed to maintain their old playground equipment or purchase “luxuries” such as new library books, classroom supplies, computers, educational software, office equipment or new sports balls for outdoor play. Our goal is to support these schools, dedicated teachers and children by helping them gain access to the same educational supplies and quality learning environment that students attending public schools located in more affluent areas enjoy.

We have been working with our principals, caregivers and pastors of daycare and after-school care programs to create WISH LISTS of items they need.

If you would like to join our growing group of caring supporters, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 904.854.4444. You may choose to donate supplies, mentor a child or donate food and healthy snacks for after-school care programs, or donate to FreshMinistries directly to help us fund additional tutors and social workers in the schools.

To date, with the help of many generous partners and a caring community, FreshMinistries has been able to provide the following:

R.L.Brown Elementary School (public)

• $7,000 worth of new Scholastic books
• Carrabba’s donated a dinner for 500 students/family. FreshMinistries staff served the dinner during the school’s first Family Literacy Night
• Nemour’s “BrightStart” program has agreed to provide free dyslexia testing for students recommended for testing by teachers.

Long Branch Elementary School (public)

• $2,000 worth of new Scholastic books
• 400 laptops for their student’s use

Matthew Gilbert Middle School (public)

• $4,000 worth of new Scholastic books
• Project SOS – teen pregnancy prevention program for all grades (6-8)
• 1st Mentor assigned ot female 7th grade student

Andrew Jackson High School (public)

• Teen Pregnancy Resources to Guidance Counselors and Nurse
• Gift cards for classroom supplies for AVID program

City Center Child Care

• 5 laptop computers provided
• $500 worth of new Scholastic books
• Episcopal Child Care sevices added them to its oversight list to assist with license, curriculum, staff training, etc.

Head Start

• 5 laptop computers provided
• Clothing, books, toys and swings provided

Eastside Neighborhood Housing Fair

• $1,000 worth of Scholastic books provided for children attending the Affordable Housing, Financial Literacy Fair

Triumph The Church and Kingdom of God in Christ

• 10 laptop computers provided
• $1,000 worth of new Scholastic books
• New clothing for youth (2 complete outfit sets per student) in after school care program (60 children/youth aged 6 to 18)

Mount Olive AME Church

• 3 laptop computers provided

In addition:

• FreshMinistries has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Duval County School Board to work within the schools and with Kessler Mentoring to provide mentor training and volunteer background checks.

• FCCJ will participate in our summer camp, summer school, GED tutoring and child care training programs

• University of North Florida will provide an assessment and data collection service to monitor our programs’ success.

• FreshMinistries has hired a Mentoring Director to recruit mentors for the children/youth in “our” schools.

• FreshMinistries has hired a Resource Director for the new Family Resource and Learning Center, scheduled to open January 2007.

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