by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
The holiday project section of the Jacksonville Bar does just what its name says — works on the holiday project.
“We basically coordinate the Bar’s holiday project,” said Sonya Hoener, chair of the section. “Every year the bar adopts senior citizens and finds sponsors for them. This year we have 444 seniors on our list. We get the names from Meals on Wheels.”
The members of the committee are responsible for finding sponsors for those senior citizens on the list.
The committee usually gets busy in mid-October, stuffing envelopes and getting the names for the list. But, this year, Hoener had someone stuff the envelopes, so the group never even had to meet.
Have they found sponsors for everyone on list?
“No, not yet, but we will get there,” said Hoener.
Cost for sponsoring a senior falls between $40-50. Hoener said they send the senior citizen a form which they mail back to their sponsor with a wish list including items that they need or want.
“Then the sponsor goes shopping and gets items on the list,” said Hoener. “They can either deliver them in person, which we encourage because they really enjoy it. If that is not possible, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office delivers the items for us.”
After the holidays are over, the section’s job is done. They do receive comments and photos from sponsors and seniors about the event, but other than that they do nothing for the rest of the year.
Hoener said the section has grown substantially. Its purpose is to coordinate the Bar’s holiday project, to make sure seniors get adopted and to help make the holidays brighter for some senior citizens.
The section has 11 committee members and each member commits to finding 20-25 sponsors for seniors. Others do more.
“We just want to make sure that all these seniors get a nice gift and a visit from a member of the Bar or a friend or family member,” said Hoener.
As the chair, Hoener is responsible for getting the list from Meals on Wheels, lining up JSO to deliver the items and making sure that everyone gets a sponsor.
Do they ever worry that there will not be enough sponsors?
“No, we’ve never had that problem,” said Hoener. “The response from the Bar has been overwhelming.”