The last 12 months have been a wild ride, to say the least. As we turn the calendars to 2021, those of us fortunate enough to still be on our feet have a great opportunity to meet rising needs in our neighborhoods. To get you started, take a look through this list of ways to give back to the Jacksonville community from Mirador & Stovall at River City.
Clara White Mission
Partner with the Clara White Mission, a local nonprofit that has been a consistent presence of support and hope in Jacksonville for more than a hundred years, since its founding in 1904. Devoted to providing critical needs to people experiencing homelssness, the mission provides free breakfast five days a week and has transitioned to handing out meals to-go during the COVID-19 pandemic. Help to make these meals happen by providing some items on the mission’s immediate needs list, which includes N95 or surgical masks, digital thermometers, hand sanitizers, individually packaged snacks, and food containers.
Farm Share
Join the work at Farm Share and be part of delivering fresh, nutrient-rich foods to people experiencing hunger. Farm Share has been fighting hunger in the Jacksonville area since 1991 and has done incredible work since the pandemic began, delivering the equivalent of 80,813,877 meals to people in need in South Central, Northeast, and Northwest Florida. Help to advance this meaningful cause by volunteering to assist with food distribution or provide administrative support. Organizations in the area can also adopt Farm Share as their Charity of Choice to help them gain widespread visibility and support.
Operation New Hope
Be part of a restorative community effort by teaming up with Operation New Hope, whose mission is to provide the necessary training and support to help people make a life for themselves after incarceration. Their acclaimed Ready4Work reentry program pairs clients with a case manager and offers transitional housing, funding for a GED, health services, and mentoring – all for free. How can you help? Become an employer of Operation New Hope clients, or join the Social Exchange, a monthly community meeting (held virtually during the pandemic) where invested community members come together to talk about the challenges facing clients.
Habitat for Humanity Jacksonville (HabiJax)
Get involved with a long-running and successful Habitat for Humanity affiliate that’s doing great work in Duval County since 1988. With a basic goal of helping people to get into homes, HabiJax functions as a builder, developer, lender, and affordable housing advocate. You can contribute to their efforts by volunteering for a construction team or working at the ReStore thrift shop. Looking for a place to donate an extra piece of furniture? You can help the mission by donating household items to be sold in the ReStore.
Find Your Cause
Every new year offers an opportunity for us to take stock of how we’re doing and what we’d like to change. Spend some time thinking about the issues that are close to your heart, and then find a nonprofit that’s helping to address those problems. Make a long-term commitment to be a partner to them in their efforts.
Looking for more ways to stay involved with the Jacksonville community? Check out our blog to stay connected.