Needs From: United Way of Northeast Florida

Join United Way of Northeast Florida’s Full Service Schools, Duval County Public Schools and the Center for Sustainable Agriculture Excellence and Conservation (CSAEC) for a community food distribution serving families in the Englewood area.

Volunteers will help unload, sort, and distribute fresh food at Englewood High School, located beside the Full Service Schools’ Englewood Family Resource Center. Together, these partners are working to increase access to nutritious food and critical community resources for neighborhood families.

Much of the fresh produce being distributed is grown by local farmers, including many small and minority-owned farms across the region, helping support both local agriculture and families experiencing food insecurity.

Please note: Volunteer start times may shift slightly as we finalize delivery and setup logistics. Any schedule adjustments are expected to be minor and will be communicated to volunteers in advance.

FOOD DRIVE FOR FULL SERVICE SCHOOLS

Please be sure to acknowledge the DIY and Kits Project Waiver, and follow the directions carefully.

Currently, there is an urgent need for food items in our Englewood and Sandalwood Full Service Schools locations.

WHAT TO DO:

You or your team will host a drive or purchase the supplies and drop off the items to the appropriate location.

You can download an instructional document here which includes discussion questions and tips for holding a drive as well as a list of suggested items.  Nonperishable items are most needed. This includes (but is not limited to) peanut butter, dried beans, rice, grains, pasta, sauces, canned items, 'add water' types of meals (dried rice and pasta dishes, etc.). When selecting items, please keep in mind that items that are too high in sodium are not good for anyone!

For guidance on what items to collect, United Way of Northeast Florida has created a chart of how much food it takes to feed a family. Please download this document and use it when creating a wish list or shopping list

Some helpful tips for hosting a drive can be found HERE.

More helpful tips for completing DIY projects can be found HERE.

You may log your hours through the self log feature of your profile after registering for the event and completing your project.

United Way can document community service hours for those that need them and will give one hour for every 15 items donated. One item counts as each package donated: one can of soup is one item and a six count package of apple sauce is one item.

When finished, contact our project coordinator here to let them know how many items you have and to coordinate drop-offs. Please note: due to the limited staff capacity of our team and our partners, it may take 3-5 days to respond and coordinate delivery.

WHY THIS DRIVE:

Hosting a food drive is one of our (DIY) Do it Yourself Volunteer Projects. DIY Volunteering allows families and groups of all ages and sizes to participate in flexible and meaningful community service opportunities from the comfort of their own homes or offices. DIY projects can be combined with social events, business meetings, celebrations, and more. Food drives are a critical way volunteers can address a real community need individually or as a group, family, school, or neighborhood. Food items that you collect will benefit a family in need through United Way's Full Service Schools network. 

Many children within Duval County do not have regular access to food. As you can imagine, this instability has an impact on their health and academic success. Snack packs will alleviate some of their discomfort and worry that negatively affects their learning, social interactions, and ability to enjoy life as a child should. This is an opportunity to help Full Service Schools address this barrier to success. This need was also created to aid families heavily affected by the pandemic.

Packs can be completed in three easy steps:

1) Decorate a blank paper bag. A bright, colorful bag can really cheer up a child of any age! 

2) Stuff the bag with the following items (all items should be easy to open, non-perishable, and should need a microwave at most to cook):

3) Create a positive, motivational card for the child and place it in each bag.

4) When you have completed the project and are ready to donate your bags, please contact our project coordinator here.

Safety First

Safety is paramount! Please read and follow these precautions before beginning this volunteer project:

Volunteer Hours

For those that require service hours, one half-hour plus one hour for every two complete snack packs with card will be given for one participant. 

Food Donation Drive for the Max Block Food Pantry at Jewish Family & Community Services.

JFCS strengthens the entire First Coast community by providing high-quality, responsive, timely wraparound services to enhance the lives of children, adults, seniors and families coping with challenges that arise throughout the life cycle. Through the onsite emergency food pantry (our Max Block Food Pantry), JFCS actively leads the fight against hunger.

The pantry is a LIFELINE for over 8,000 people each year facing a crisis, helping to nourish and stabilize them so that they can satisfy their most basic human need of nutrition. Children cannot focus in the classroom when they are hungry and worried where their next meal will come from. Families cannot focus on higher level issues such as goal setting, nurturing parenting, safety and self-sufficiency when they are battling extreme hunger and malnutrition. Seniors cannot maintain their health when forced to choose between prescriptions or food. By helping individuals and families satisfy their most basic human need, the pantry is a core service that we "wrap" around at-risk families, often supplementing other services that we are providing in the home or in the school. It helps stabilize families so they are better prepared when a crisis hits. 

It is so important to keep the Max Block Food Pantry stocked with non-perishable food (canned meat, soup, stew, fruit, veggies, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, rice, pasta, etc) for these reasons. It is especially important during the summer months. One of the most telling statistics is that one in five school age children have their only meals while in school. School gets out in early June usually and many of them do not have food at home to eat, so they go hungry. A stocked pantry allows JFCS to partner with various summer camps and other non-profit agencies to ensure these children receive the food and nutrition they need to get though the summer.

This is an ongoing need throughout the year. Help us help over 60,000 people in 2018. 

We need your help! The Jewish Family & Community Services Max Block Food Pantry needs your help! Every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-3 p.m. we are open to the public. We supply Jacksonville residents with much-needed food help. At various times a year, we receive large deliveries to stock the shelves as well. Contact Suzanne Zimmerman at szimmerman@jfcsjax.org to volunteer today. This need is ongoing.

JFCS strengthens the entire First Coast community by providing high-quality, responsive, timely wraparound services to enhance the lives of children, adults, seniors and families coping with challenges that arise throughout the life cycle. Through the onsite emergency food pantry (our Max Block Food Pantry), JFCS actively leads the fight against hunger.

The pantry is a LIFELINE for over 8,000 people each year facing a crisis, helping to nourish and stabilize them so that they can satisfy their most basic human need of nutrition. Children cannot focus in the classroom when they are hungry and worried where their next meal will come from. Families cannot focus on higher level issues such as goal setting, nurturing parenting, safety and self-sufficiency when they are battling extreme hunger and malnutrition. Seniors cannot maintain their health when forced to choose between prescriptions or food. By helping individuals and families satisfy their most basic human need, the pantry is a core service that we "wrap" around at-risk families, often supplementing other services that we are providing in the home or in the school. It helps stabilize families so they are better prepared when a crisis hits. 

It is so important to keep the Max Block Food Pantry stocked with non-perishable food (canned meat, soup, stew, fruit, veggies, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, rice, pasta, etc) for these reasons. It is especially important during the summer months. One of the most telling statistics is that one in five school age children have their only meals while in school. School gets out in early June usually and many of them do not have food at home to eat, so they go hungry. A stocked pantry allows JFCS to partner with various summer camps and other non-profit agencies to ensure these children receive the food and nutrition they need to get though the summer.

This is an ongoing need throughout the year. Help us help over 60,000 people in 2018. 

No amount is too small.

Purchasing items or hosting a food drive is a critical way volunteers can address a real community need individually or as a group, family, church, school or neighborhood.  You or your team can host a drive, purchase supplies, and drop off the food to our location.  You may log your hours and we will verify one hour for every 10 items collected.  

Items needed - Non Perishable Food items within expiration date i.e. peanut butter, jelly, canned items, boxed goods, cereals, pastas, etc.

For questions, please contact Beth Wilson clothing@descjax.org

Food Donation Drive for the Max Block Food Pantry at Jewish Family & Community Services.

JFCS strengthens the entire First Coast community by providing high-quality, responsive, timely wraparound services to enhance the lives of children, adults, seniors and families coping with challenges that arise throughout the life cycle. Through the onsite emergency food pantry (our Max Block Food Pantry), JFCS actively leads the fight against hunger.

The pantry is a LIFELINE for over 8,000 people each year facing a crisis, helping to nourish and stabilize them so that they can satisfy their most basic human need of nutrition. Children cannot focus in the classroom when they are hungry and worried where their next meal will come from. Families cannot focus on higher level issues such as goal setting, nurturing parenting, safety and self-sufficiency when they are battling extreme hunger and malnutrition. Seniors cannot maintain their health when forced to choose between prescriptions or food. By helping individuals and families satisfy their most basic human need, the pantry is a core service that we "wrap" around at-risk families, often supplementing other services that we are providing in the home or in the school. It helps stabilize families so they are better prepared when a crisis hits. 

It is so important to keep the Max Block Food Pantry stocked with non-perishable food (canned meat, soup, stew, fruit, veggies, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, rice, pasta, etc) for these reasons. It is especially important during the summer months. One of the most telling statistics is that one in five school age children have their only meals while in school. School gets out in early June usually and many of them do not have food at home to eat, so they go hungry. A stocked pantry allows JFCS to partner with various summer camps and other non-profit agencies to ensure these children receive the food and nutrition they need to get though the summer.

This is an ongoing need throughout the year. Help us help over 60,000 people in 2018. 

Volunteers Needed – Kitchen & Meal Ministry Program

Make a difference by helping serve hot meals to those in need! Our Meal Ministry relies on volunteers to assist with:

✔ Greeting guests
✔ Plating and serving food
✔ Cleanup

Lunch shift: 10:30AM-1:45PM

Dinner shift: 3:30PM-6:45PM

All opportunities available 7 days a week. For more information and to sign up email Jennifer Foster at jennifer.foster@uss.salvationarmy.org or call 904-443-9443.

Many children within Duval County do not have regular access to food. As you can imagine, this instability has an impact on their health and academic success. Snack packs will alleviate some of their discomfort and worry that negatively affects their learning, social interactions, and ability to enjoy life as a child should. This is an opportunity to help Full Service Schools address this barrier to success. This need was also created to aid families heavily affected by the pandemic.

Packs can be completed in three easy steps:

1) Decorate a blank paper bag. A bright, colorful bag can really cheer up a child of any age! 

2) Stuff the bag with the following items (all items should be easy to open, non-perishable, and should need a microwave at most to cook):

3) Create a positive, motivational card for the child and place it in each bag.

4) When you have completed the project and are ready to donate your bags, please contact our project coordinator here.

Safety First

Safety is paramount! Please read and follow these precautions before beginning this volunteer project:

Volunteer Hours

For those that require service hours, one half-hour plus one hour for every two complete snack packs with card will be given for one participant. 

We will be opening up a food pantry in a local school.  We are asking for any donations of food for the children for snacks and most of the families of the students who may be in need of groceries.

We’re organizing a Pantry Food Drive to support individuals and families in need in the Historic Eastside Community. With your generosity, we can provide nutritious meals to those who are struggling to make ends meet.  Your donations will go directly to those in need, helping to provide essential food & personal items to families, seniors, and individuals who are facing difficult times.

What You Can Donate:

Canned Goods (Vegetables, Fruits, Beans, Meats)

Rice & Pasta

Cereal

Peanut Butter

Baby Formula

Other Non-Perishable Items

Clothing

Hygiene Products ( Men & Women)

These items can be dropped off between the hours of 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday thru Friday @ 822 A Philip Randolph Blvd. Jax FL 32206