from staff
As our community continues to face a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this page that will each week chronicle the efforts of local nonprofit organizations. Bailey Publishing & Communications invites all members of the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success stories and any other information they believe would be of interest to our readers. E-mail to: [email protected].
We also encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they try to continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.
Scholarship contracts match students with mentors
Take Stock in Children, a scholarship and mentoring program that serves the students of Duval County schools, has announced the matching of about 116 mentors and students and the award of more than $1 million in college scholarships.
The match program is a way for middle and high school students who have qualified to participate sign a contract agreeing to remain drug and crime free, maintain a certain GPA and stay in school. Once in the program, students are also assigned a mentor, whom they meet with on a weekly basis.
Students who fulfill their contract will, upon their high school graduation, receive a scholarship worth almost $13,000 that will pay for two years at any community college and two years at any state college or university of their choice.
The program has two goals: to see that every student enrolled receives a high school diploma and continues at a post-secondary institute and that once students achieve a marketable skill or degree, they will become a positive contributing member and leader in the Jacksonville community.
“Mentors are the key to Take Stock in Children’s success. They assist students as they navigate through middle and high school making the correct choices that will allow them to go to college,” said Leah Barker, Take Stock in Children director for Duval County.
The program receives funding through both private and public partnerships. Mentors are recruited from area business partners and churches.
“We are working incredibly hard to ensure that the needs of our students are met. We are dedicated to providing them with every tool necessary to help them finish their high school careers and move on toward their next educational goal,” said Barker.
Grocer partners with City Rescue Mission
Native Sun Natural Foods Market has chosen City Rescue Mission as its GreenApples Charity of the Month for November. Throughout the month, Native Sun will collect nonperishable food items for the organization, which provides clothing, shelter and food for the homeless and needy in Jacksonville.
“We are thrilled and appreciative to have Native Sun’s support again this year,” said Penny Kievet, City Rescue Mission director of resource development. “Their event is such a wonderful testament of community support for the homeless and needy in Northeast Florida. We look forward to reaping the results of their efforts.”
Through Saturday, customers will receive one free raffle ticket for every item donated. Raffle winners will be announced during Native Sun’s Fall Food Festival Saturday. Donations will be accepted at both Native Sun locations and raffle winners will be randomly selected from each store. Cash donation boxes will also be available at each register throughout the month.
“We understand, now more than ever, how important the work of the City Rescue Mission is to our community and hope the items collected during our food drive will bring comfort to those less fortunate this holiday season,” said Sarah Butsch, Native Sun’s GreenApples Charity coordinator.
Native Sun has been a longtime supporter of City Rescue Mission, donating food items from their stores year round. To date, the locally owned and operated grocer has donated more than $15,000 in goods. The canned food items collected throughout the month of November will help City Rescue Mission feed Jacksonville’s homeless and needy, which has increased by more than 30 percent in the last year.
“We are preparing for our busiest season ever,” said Kievet. “With the support of Native Sun, we will have the opportunity to reach out in love to more hungry and homeless people needing a way out of their misery.”
Since 1946, City Rescue Mission has provided help to the homeless and needy in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. In addition to providing emergency services for the homeless, they offer life-changing programs like the New Day Workforce and LifeBuilders to help homeless people get off the streets and back on their feet.
For more information about City Rescue Mission, visit www.crmjax.org.
Interfaith service Thursday
OneJax, the local nonprofit interfaith agency dedicated to promoting respect and understanding among people of different religions, races and cultures, will hold its annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Gratitude Service on Thursday at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church.
The service will include a procession of faith leaders and clergy. Expressions of thanks from each tradition will follow, many presented in the native tongue of their culture (English translation will be provided). Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Native American representatives will be among those participating in the service.
“This service is a special opportunity for people to come together, to learn from each other and to gain a better understanding about how the many different expressions of faith in our community make us a stronger, more vibrant community,” said Tatiana Salvador, board chair of OneJax.
“With so much attention typically focused on the things that divide us, I can’t think of a better way for the community to unite and express gratitude for all the things we share,” she said.
As in previous years, those attending the service are encouraged to bring canned and dry goods to support the Second Harvest Food Bank, which anticipates an increase in demand this Thanksgiving and holiday season.
Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church is at 4001 Hendricks Ave. The service, which is free and open to the community, will begin at 6 p.m. and last about an hour. A fellowship reception will follow the service.
For more information, call OneJax at 354-1JAX (1529) or visit www.onejax.org.
Volunteer honored for ‘AHA Moment’
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville has announced that Dale Cockley, a Jacksonville resident and Ron-
ald McDonald House volunteer, has been named one of Mutual
of Omaha’s top 10 “AHA Moments.”
Mutual of Omaha asked the public to submit videos explaining their “AHA Moments.” They received many submissions and narrowed them down to 75 outstanding moments. There were more than 80,000 votes cast in this contest to determine which “AHA Moments” would be included in the campaign.
Cockley’s “AHA Moment,” entitled “First Sound,” explains his experience playing guitar for a child staying at the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House after having cochlear implant surgery.
He talks about the child’s reaction to hearing sound for the first time and the joy he experienced knowing that he made that moment possible.
The video, which will be featured in a television ad campaign that will air in 2011, can be viewed at www.ahamoment.com/pg/voting.
Rosie True makes special times
Angie Sparks, owner of Rosie True Boutiques in Jacksonville Beach and San Marco, continues to make dreams come true. This month, she made-over two breast cancer survivors and enlisted a team of vendors to help put together the $1,000 makeovers and dinners for two at Roy’s Restaurant.
“We started thinking about how we can ‘make someone’s day’ happen more often as a Rosie True Dream Team because the makeovers were so inspiring,” said Sparks.
“It doesn’t have to be a head-to-toe makeover like we’ve done before. I just kept thinking there are essential things that people, particularly women and children, need, especially during these tough economic times. I know we specialize in clothing and luxury items, but I want to translate that into fulfilling more basic
needs.”
The newly formed “Rosie True Dream Team” will be taking a few days out of each month to serve something special to deserving women throughout the community.
‘Santa Dollars’ at Publix
Children’s Home Society of Florida is partnering with Publix Super Markets this holiday season with “Santa Dollars.”
A Santa Dollar is an actual dollar bill with a trademarked and registered Santa seal covering George Washington’s face. The seal is removable so the dollar remains legal tender and can be spent or kept as a collectible.
From now through Dec. 26, Publix customers can purchase Santa Dollars for $2.50, with $1 going directly to charity.
Santa Dollars are the creative inspiration of Marketing Productions, a Palm Harbor company. Since 1985, the company has partnered with retailers across the United States to sell the dollars and benefit charitable nonprofit organizations. More than $25 million has been raised, including $14,500 last year for Florida’s most vulnerable children.