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.
Food Bank facing challenging year ahead
The Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida experienced some of its most challenging days in 2008 - with demand for food and resources at an all-time high. Those numbers are not expected to improve in 2009.
Over the last 12 months, the Food Bank has undergone a complete rebranding, launched its first ever public awareness campaign and solidified its position as the authority on the issue of hunger in north Florida. Its most important achievement, however, was in the effort put forth to serve the more than 250,000 hungry people that reside in the 18-county area served by Second Harvest. More than 7 million pounds of food was moved through the Second Harvest warehouse in 2008, an average of nearly 30,000 pounds per day that the facility was open. The food was distributed to the 515 non-profit agencies in Jacksonville that work directly with hungry people from smaller groups like soup kitchens and church pantries, to larger organizations like the Salvation Army and Sulzbacher Center.
Second Harvest Food Bank saw its demand for resources increase by more than 32 percent in 2008. With demand at an all-time high and the economy struggling during that same time, the Jacksonville community never wavered in its support. In fact, it responded like never before.
All three primary fundraisers for the Second Harvest Food Bank produced record returns in 2008 including the 18th Annual Jacksonville FOODFIGHT in June, the 6th Annual Taste of the NFL in September and the 24th Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon in November. Empty Bowls eclipsed 1,000 attendees for the first time ever and produced gross revenues of more than $76,000, shattering the previous record by nearly $20,000.
More importantly, when food resources declined at the Food Bank, organizations and individuals stepped forward to help fill the void. The Food Bank accepted more than 35,000 pounds of donated food products each month from September through December, compared to an average of just 3,500 pounds per month from January through March 2008. Monetary donations also increased by more than 50 percent in the year’s final four months compared to the same period in 2007.
While those numbers are encouraging, the fact remains that hunger is an issue that will not go away. Each day, Second Harvest and its member agencies see more families reaching out for help. With economic conditions not forecasted to improve in 2009, Second Harvest will again need the community’s support and even more resources to continue fighting hunger and reaching the many in need within its reach.
To find out more about the Second Harvest Food Bank, how it fights hunger and how you can be part of the solution, visit www.WeNourishHope.org.
– Submitted by Lutheran Social Services Advancement Manager Tom Strother
Beach clinic now open
Beaches Community Healthcare, a Sulzbacher Center clinic, is now open at 859 6th Ave. S. in Jacksonville Beach. The walk-in facility will be open each week Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m.-noon. It will treat uninsured patients with incomes at or below 20 percent of the federal poverty level, which is currently $38,000 a year for a family of four. The clinic will be sustained by a three-year, $1.9 million federal grant to the Sulzbacher Center. Beaches Community Healthcare founding partners include Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, Christ Episcopal Church Ponte Vedra and the Sulzbacher Center. Additional community partners are A-dec, Beach United Methodist Church, Beaches Community Healthcare Foundation, Benco Dental, the City of Jacksonville Beach, the Fanny Landwirth Foundation, Stellar and The Players Championship.
Arts Awards deadline nears
The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville is seeking nominations for the 33rd Annual Arts Awards. Local arts and business leaders as well as educators and past recipients will join Cultural Council board members on the panel of judges. The committee will review nominations based on community outreach, service to the underserved and the development of unique programs and collaborations. Small business nominations will be accepted from companies with gross revenues of less than $5 million and fewer than 100 employees. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 11 and a complete list of criteria and a nomination form may be found at www.culturalcouncil.org or by calling 358-3600.
Blue Cross Blue Shield continues grants
The Cultural Council has also announced the continuation of its grant partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. The BCBSF Arts and Cultural Education Grant Program will provide five $5,000 grants to small and mid-sized cultural organizations with a focus on programs that foster art education, appreciation and awareness, as well as those which promote multicultural awareness and diversity. Cultural organizations with annual revenues under $1 million located in Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, Baker and Clay counties may qualify for the grants. Deadline for applications is Feb. 18. For details, visit www.culturalcouncil.org.
Women’s heart health stories wanted
The American Heart and Stroke Association is calling on First Coast women to share their stories of heart health for the “Go Red for Women” project. Six women will become the official representatives of the program and will be featured in the advertising campaign. Winners will receive jewelry, gift certificates, a seat at the annual luncheon and the opportunity to participate in the national “Go Red for Women” casting call. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 31 and this year’s winners will be announced Feb. 5 at Underwood Jewelers in Avondale. Women wishing to enter may send a biography including their heart story and their image demonstrating their favorite way to “Go Red” either by e-mail or regular mail. For details, call 739-0197.
Fundraiser for Community Connections
The 2nd Annual Mardi Gras to raise money for Community Connections will be held Jan. 30 at the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum. The evening will include music and dancing, hors d’oeuvres from Biscotti’s, a cash bar, a silent auction and raffle drawings as well as prizes for best costumes. Tickets are $35 per person, call 350-9949 for group pricing.