from staff
As our community continues to struggle with a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this page that will each week feature local nonprofit organizations. We invite all members of the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success stories and any other information they feel would be of interest to our readers. E-mail to: [email protected].
We also hope that this will enable our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they try to continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.
Sixteen years of service at Sanctuary on 8th Street
The Sanctuary on 8th Street, formerly known as Urban Ministries of Florida, was created in 1992 at the old Springfield Presbyterian Church at 6th and Silver streets. The original mission was to serve children, families and adults in the Springfield neighborhood.
In 2000, the organization bought and renovated the former U.S. Post Office building on East 8th Street. Current services include an after school program, summer day camp and a small home school for high school students. The children who attend the programs are on Duval County Public Schools’ free lunch program and are living in generational poverty. The Sanctuary serves 100 clients and more than half of them have been in the program for more than five years. They range in age from 5-18 years.
Programs at the Sanctuary focus on all areas of healthy childhood development: academics, arts enrichment, field trips, sports and recreation, games, arts and crafts and social and emotional development. The play room, game room, outdoor play area, computer lab, homework room with tutors, art room, all serve the needs of the children. A large kitchen provides opportunities for learning cooking skills. Riverside Presbyterian Church hosts a youth program every Wednesday night.
Children are encouraged to express themselves in positive ways, to take responsibility for their actions and to help with chores. Older children help out with the younger children. Positive behavior is the ticket for all extra activities. The children exceed the public school promotion rate and refrain from parenthood and violent crime. The five students enrolled in Sanctuary’s home school have all improved their grades over their public school performance and have achieved 100 percent attendance. Standardized test scores have improved.
The Sanctuary welcomes volunteers of all ages, including middle and high school students who need community service hours. Volunteer opportunities include homework help, leading games, reading stories, helping with arts and crafts or sharing a special talent. Yard maintenance, bike repair, library or play room clean up offer other opportunities to contribute. School supplies, healthy snacks, art supplies, office supplies and paper goods are also always needed.
The motto is “Hope happens at the Sanctuary on 8th Street” where a path out of poverty is provided for children who need a safe, happy, healthy place to spend their time to work, learn and develop into healthy and well-adjusted adults.
For more information, visit www.sanctuaryon8th.org.
– Submitted by Vicky Watkins, Sanctuary on 8th Street executive director
Jiffy Lube ‘Going Red for Women’
Jiffy Lube service centers in Jacksonville are participating for the second year in the company’s “Maintenance Partners for Life” program with the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” movement. Through March 16, customers who visit a Jiffy Lube location and donate $3 to Go Red for Women will receive a savings book worth $100 toward preventive maintenance vehicle service. The book also includes recipes for healthy meals and tips for living a healthier lifestyle.
Nationally, Jiffy Lube service centers raised more than $1 million last year for “Go Red for Women.” For more information, call 1-888-694-3278 or visit www.goredforwomen.org.
Girls, Inc. seeking women to make a difference
A select group of local women who have committed themselves to improving the lives of Jacksonville’s girls is calling for new members. The “Girls, Inc. Committee of 100” is assembling additional reinforcements to meet the organization’s needs in 2009.
“The Committee of 100 is for any woman in our community who wants to emphasize girls’ rights and shore up their success,” said Laura Lasko, president and CEO of Girls, Inc. of Jacksonville. “This group was launched in 2008 and has made a tremendous impact on the types of programs and services we are able to provide local girls.”
Girls, Inc focuses on underserved areas of Jacksonville and serves more than 1,700 girls through after school, summer camps and outreach programs that build confidence and self-esteem. Initiatives also teach skills to help girls improve their life decisions. The Girls Clubs began as a program of the Pilot Club of Jacksonville in 1970 and became affiliated with the Girls Clubs of America in 1971. In 1990, the organization changed its name to Girls, Inc. on a national and local level.
For more information or to join the Committee of 100, call 731-9933 or visit www.girlsincjax.org.
‘Daddy Daughter Dance’ sets up for second year
Playing off the success of the inaugural “Daddy Daughter Dance” last year, Girls, Inc. will host the second annual edition of the event March 21 at the Hyatt. In partnership with The Players Championship, the 2009 gala has been dubbed, “Daddy Daughter Golf Ball.”
The evening will include dinner, dessert and dancing to music courtesy of Radio Disney
Cost to attend the event is $75 per couple and $25 per additional daughter. Only prepaid reservations will be accepted and must be made by March 9. No tickets will be available at the event. To make reservations, visit www.girlsincjax.org. Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards are accepted.