It’s that time of year when bells ring and the Salvation Army of Northeast Florida’s iconic red kettles appear.
To mark the first day of bell ringing this year, the organization will have a kettle kickoff at noon Thursday at the Publix Super Market at Roosevelt Square.
Starting that day, kettles will be at Publix, Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart stores in Northeast Florida Mondays-Saturdays through Christmas Eve.
Funds collected from the kettles stay in the community to support the Salvation Army’s hunger and homeless programs. They include the food pantry that provides supplemental groceries to 250 households each week, the ministry program that serves meals to the homeless and working poor and the Towers Center of Hope that provides more than 41,000 nights of shelter each year.
5K raises $10,000 for ship museum project
The fifth annual Salute to Veterans 5K on Sunday honored U.S. military units and veterans and raised funds to benefit The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association and its museum at the Jacksonville Landing.
Presenting sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co. has supported the event since its first year and donated $10,000 to the nonprofit for a total contribution of $40,000 since 2013.
The association is working to bring the retired USS Charles F. Adams guided missile destroyer home to Jacksonville to become a floating museum Downtown at the Shipyards property.
It is scheduled to open in 2017 and will be Florida’s first naval warship museum.
To learn how to help bring home the historic warship, visit USSAdams.com.
Red Coats donate to veterans center
In recognition of Veterans Day week, the Red Coats — the volunteer leadership from The Players Championship –– visited Five Star Veterans Center where they provided lunch for the center’s veterans and staff.
The center received a $5,000 grant from the tournament this year.
While they were there, the volunteers gave the organization two new washers and dryers and an additional $10,000 donation.
The center offers safe and secure housing to displaced veterans in an attempt to alleviate veteran homelessness.
On Nov. 14, the Red Coats will visit Pine Castle, which received a $5,000 grant. Pine Castle serves adults with intellectual and other disabilities and provides support to their families.
PGA Tour player Jim Furyk will join Duval County School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti on Nov. 21 for a visit to North Shore Elementary School to learn about improvement in academics.
The tournament is the sponsor for the school’s City Year program that bridges the gap in high-poverty communities between the support students need and what their schools are able to provide.
The volunteers’ visits will conclude at the new Topgolf facility Nov. 29 with an outing for children from The Boselli Foundation afterschool program.
The foundation is a faith-based nonprofit that provides programs for children in Northwest Jacksonville who need help in reading, language arts and mathematics, supplemental services, mentoring and character development.
Meet Me at the 50 raises $50,000 for In the Pink
The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation and the Jaguars Women’s Association presented $50,000 in proceeds generated from the recent Meet Me at the 50 fundraiser to local nonprofit In the Pink.
Michaela Bradley, wife of head coach Gus Bradley, and members of the association delivered the check to Jerri Millard, founder of In the Pink and a two-time cancer survivor.
The donation will help provide women who are uninsured or underinsured with wigs, mastectomy products, post-surgical garments and other items that allow them to retain their dignity, said Millard.
The fourth annual Meet Me at the 50 presented by PRI Productions brought more than 600 participants to EverBank Field on Oct. 13.
La-Z-Boy helps furnish Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville, an organization that serves as a home away from home for families while their children receive medical care, has become more comfortable thanks to a furniture donation from the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.
The company donated 26 sleeper sofas and living room furnishings valued at approximately $30,000 to the nonprofit.
The sleeper sofas are being used in the family suites while the other furniture will be placed in several common areas.
La-Z-Boy is the official furniture provider of Ronald McDonald House programs and Ronald McDonald Family Room programs nationwide.
For more information, visit rmhcjacksonville.org.