by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Outside was gray and dim due to a morning rain storm, but inside the office of Family Support Services of Northeast Florida the smiles of foster kids were wide and bright.
The Young Lawyers Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association and Northeast Florida Paralegal Association volunteers co-hosted the event Jan. 16 to provide a “Holiday in January” for foster kids who may not have received presents without the party.
“It is geared toward children who were relocated during the holiday season due to an unsafe, neglectful or even abusive homes,” said Fraz Ahmed, chair of the project. “The purpose is to give these children a holiday they did not otherwise get to enjoy.”
The event served 25 children from the Jacksonville area, providing 20 bikes and toys for kids.
“One of the greatest parts of this event is when you see the faces of the children light up as they come in to the room and see their name on a bike or toys,” said Chuck Young, of Family Support Services of Northeast Florida.
The event included snacks and pizza, a craft table, face painting, visits with Santa and a Nintendo Wii system for the kids to play.
Sponsors of the event included law firms Murphy & Anderson, Kubicki Draper, Boyd and Jenerette, Cronin and Maxwell, Law Offices of Michael F. Orr and Rogers Towers; attorneys Tom
Tygart, Robert Cole and William Stone; Riley Reporting & Associates, Inc., Wal-Mart, The Jacksonville Bar Association and the Northeast Florida Paralegal Association.
356-2466