Stellar, a firm focused on design, engineering, construction and mechanical services worldwide, collected 37 Thanksgiving baskets for the families of Community Connections.
The organization offers support services, including day care for children, job training and assistance and counseling programs, as well as GED and college study programs.
Stellar employees filled laundry baskets with non-perishable goods to feed a family of four to six people. Baskets were filled with canned vegetables, rice, potatoes, cake mixes and other items to prepare several side dishes. In addition, each basket contained a gift card for the family to purchase a turkey or ham.
Stellar’s participation in the program helps Community Connections provide more than 1,800 families with a Thanksgiving meal.
Community Connections of Jacksonville is one of the oldest human services agencies in Northeast Florida, helping the needy and the disenfranchised for more than 100 years.
For more information, visit communityconnectionsjax.org.
Bank of America supports local charities
Bank of America Charitable Foundation awarded $136,035 in grants to 14 local nonprofits that provide assistance to low-income individuals and families.
Basic Human Services Grants will help support programs that offer aid throughout Northeast Florida, including food, shelter, clothing, job training, health services, financial education and toys to brighten the holidays of children.
The latest grants build on nearly 14 years of investment in Northeast Florida, where Bank of America supports dozens of nonprofits that seek to help the most vulnerable residents achieve financial independence.
Organizations that received Basic Human Services:
• Hubbard House: $20,000 to support the domestic abuse facility’s Emergency Shelter and Services Program.
• St. Vincent’s Foundation: $15,000 for the organization’s Mobile Outreach Program, the only mobile provider of free health care services in Northeast Florida. Staffed by physicians, nurses and medical assistants, St. Vincent’s mobile unit serves men, women and children who don’t have access to medical care.
• Children’s Christmas Party of Jacksonville: $5,000 to support the nonprofit’s annual toy giveaway for children whose parents can’t afford to buy gifts. Last year, more than 7,000 children took home presents, including toys, bikes and books, from the one-day event.
Other grant recipients are Community Connections of Jacksonville, $20,000; Feeding Northeast Florida, $15,000; Sulzbacher Center, $15,000; RealSense, a program of United Way of Northeast Florida, $10,000; Downtown Ecumenical Services Council, $7,000; Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, $5,000; Clara White Mission, $5,000; Jewish Community Alliance, $5,000; Senior Life Foundation, $5,000; Quigley House, $5,000; and Five Star Veterans Center, $4,035.
For information, visit bank–ofamerica.com/foundation.
Salvation Army provides Thanksgiving for 1,200 families
More than 1,200 families will have the makings for a Thanksgiving Day meal this year, thanks to the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving Food Box Distribution.
The food was sorted and packed by volunteers Tuesday at the Towers Social Services Center. Families applied for the Thanksgiving food boxes earlier in the year. The application process ensures that only those truly in need receive assistance.
In 2013, the Salvation Army provided toys, clothing and groceries for nearly 8,200 children and seniors during the holiday season.
Volunteers serving Thanksgiving at Sulzbacher Center
At noon Thursday, the Sulz–bacher Center will serve a Thanksgiving feast to hundreds of hungry men, women, and children. Preparation for the meal will begin at 5 a.m. when the first staff members and resident volunteers arrive to begin
work.
Volunteers will serve roast turkey with sage gravy, dressing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, roasted squash, fresh rolls, and pumpkin, apple and pecan pies.
The holiday meal was made possible by donations from the community –– Southeast Toyota sponsored the meal, volunteers from the Junior League made table centerpieces and donors sent in table cards with inspiring messages.
Monique Burr golf tournament is Monday at Palencia
The Monique Burr Foundation for Children’s Champions for Child Safety Pro Am will tee off Monday at the Palencia Club in St. Augustine.
Limited opportunities remain to golf for a good cause. The honorary chairs are Fred Funk, Jim Furyk and Mark McCumber.
This year’s event is the foundation’s 17th annual golf tournament and marks the launch of the newly named event after its presenting sponsor, AT&T.
Proceeds will help Florida communities fund MBF Child Safety Matters, the foundation’s bullying and child abuse prevention program offered to elementary schools in Florida at no cost to public schools. The program offers training and resources for students, parents and school personnel.
The event will begin Sunday with a registration and pairings party hosted by Brumos Automotive. Dao Fournier, courtesy of Underwood Jewelers, will host a trunk show, and Champion Brands will provide a beer pairing at each food station.
The opening ceremonies are 10 a.m. Monday and a cocktail reception and awards ceremony will begin following play.
For more information and to register, visit championsforchildsafety.com or contact Callie Hugo at [email protected].