by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Santa Claus made a stop at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Saturday to spend time listening to requests from foster children in Northeast Florida and granting holiday wishes.
Family Support Services (FSS) has coordinated Santa’s visit since it was founded five years ago and this year was the second time the party was held at the Zoo.
An anticipated 1,000 children were expected to visit Santa during the event and stop by the gift area to pick out three gifts each.
“It’s a great experience for both the kids and the volunteers,” said Candace Monroe, of the Community Development Department of Family Support Services. “The sponsors really come through for this event and it’s great to see the kids’ faces light up when they get the presents.”
FSS was created five years ago to be the lead agency in the community-based care project in Duval and Nassau counties. FSS provides all child protection services previously performed by the Department of Children and Families.
Services for the abused and neglected children and their families are performed by a network of local community-based nonprofit agencies including Children’s Home Society, daniel, PSI Family Services, Jewish Family & Community Services and Mental Health Resource Center (MHRC), which are also governed by community boards of directors.
Members of the FSS Board of Directors include: Dr. George Armstrong of UF Shands Pediatric Cardiology; Dedie Campbell of Atlantic Coast Bank; Wayne Clark of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; John Drilling of Rock Creek Capital; Nancy Edwards of Community Representative; Von Fuller of Jacksonville Electric Authority; Dr. Harriet Howe of the University of North Florida; Bruce Jasinsky of Coldwell Banker - Jasinsky & Associates; Dr. Dennis Lafer, pediatric surgeon; Philip Mobley of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida; attorney Michael Mullin; Lynn Sherman of Baptist Health System; attorney Michael Shorstein; Dr. Steven Wallace, president of Florida Community College at Jacksonville; Kimberly Waterhouse of the Jacksonville Business Journal; and Michael Widman, board president of Vistakon/Johnson & Johnson.
The Junior League of Jacksonville was one of the bigger donors for the event, both collecting toys and supplying volunteers to help distribute them Saturday.
“It gets a little crazy, but it’s fun,” said Junior League member Jennifer Lee, an attorney with the Public Defender’s Office. “It’s great to see the expression on their faces when you give them something they really wanted.”
Area fire stations served as drop off points for the toys and U.S. Marines from the Toys for Tots Foundation helped with collection.
“This is such a community effort with so many organizations working together to provide a nice Christmas for these kids,” said Morgan.
The Jacksonville Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section (YLS) will also team up with FSS to provide “Holiday in January” for foster children. The organization’s annual holiday project provides gifts to foster children who might not have received a happy holiday without the donation.
YLS is currently accepting donations for the event or volunteers who may want to help out for the Jan. 24 party.
356-2466