The Jacksonville Bar Association wrapped up Wednesday another successful annual holiday project.
Each year the JBA partners with nonprofit Aging True to provide gifts for seniors in the Meals on Wheels program.
Although I have tried to discover the exact history of this longstanding project through personal interviews and diligent Google searches, the best estimate I have is the association has been providing holiday cheer to local seniors for more than 22 years.
This year, we provided gifts for 275 people who otherwise might have been forgotten.
Seniors participating in the project submit a list of items they would like as gifts. The requests range from a new pair of slippers or pajamas to small household appliances and snacks.
The Holiday Project Committee then finds JBA members who agree to sponsor the seniors by purchasing, wrapping and delivering the gifts.
Through a partnership with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, those who are unable to personally deliver the presents bring them to the JBA office, where they are collected and delivered by police officers and Community Service Officers.
On Wednesday, led by Lt. Paul Restivo, JSO personnel helped deliver about 100 gifts.
Nothing reminds me of how delinquent I have been in my personal holiday shopping like seeing a conference room full of gifts. The photos on Page A-6 illustrate the generosity of our Bar association.
Thank you to the members of the JBA Holiday Project Committee who helped make this year’s project a success: co-Chairs Alessandro Apolito and Kimberly Jones, and Cyndy Trimmer, Rose Marie Preddy, Mark Pionessa, Seth Nix, Jineane McMinn, Bruce Duggar, Adina Pollan, Giselle Girones, Michele Waddell, Leah Goryl, Austin Hamilton and Mike Bateh.
Thank you to our members, judges, law firm staff and law school faculty and students who participated in the project this year and helped make the holidays brighter for some of Jacksonville’s seniors.