by Kent Jennings Brockwell
Staff Writer
With Christmas right around the corner, the Jacksonville Bar Association is nearing completion of its annual holiday project.
During each Christmas season for more than 10 years, the JBA has worked with a local Meals on Wheels program to purchase and deliver gifts to individuals that might not otherwise receive any presents during the holidays.
Diane Gill, executive director of the JBA, said the association will be delivering presents to almost 500 people this season, which is a record for the project. Gill said the project is important because many of the individuals do not have any family and the JBA’s present delivery might be the only visit the recipients will receive all season.
Gill said gift recipients are chosen though Urban Jacksonville’s Meals on Wheels program. After the JBA gets a list of names from Urban Jacksonville, the association sends out informational packets to the individuals. The packet includes a cover letter explaining the program, a return envelope and a wish list for the participants to complete.
After the wish lists are returned, members from the JBA go out and buy items from the list that are later delivered directly to the recipients.
Participation in the project is not limited to bar members though. Gill said participants include legal assistants, support staff and law students.
Bette Gilpin, legal assistant to attorney Michael Bowlus, was a coordinator for this year’s project. Gilpin said while most deliveries are made by the individual donors, about 100 presents have been dropped off at the JBA’s office on the Southbank. Those presents will be delivered later in the week by several officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, she said.
“It is a wonderful project,” said Gilpin. “It brightens up the day for all of the shut-ins. Sometimes the Meals on Wheels people are the only people they ever see so it is very rewarding to see the person perk up when you make a delivery.”
Gilpin said most people request items such as bathrobes, pajamas or heating pads and many sponsors will buy multiple items on the recipient’s list.
Gilpin said the deliveries will begin this week and all of the presents should be delivered by the end of next week.
“The most rewarding is the deliveries just to see the person just perk up,” she said. “They are just so happy. They really appreciate it.”