It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

For the past 10 years HOPE worldwide – Jacksonville has hosted a Toy Dive and Christmas Eve distribution. This has grown from toy collection to utilizing excess toys from the Children’s Christmas Party of Jacksonville which serves over 10,000 children each year. Their party was developed by business leaders in the community and they raise funds throughout the year to purchase toys and bicycles. In all but one of the past 5 years we have been blessed with excess toys. The one year we did not, toys came from Santa somehow to brighten up their holiday time. We also have a toy collection opportunity for the members of the Jacksonville Church of Christ.

On Christmas Eve our volunteers deliver toys to children and families in the Jacksonville area who are often less served and live in low income or high crime areas. We began with going door to door in community housing facilities but transitioned to hosting parties in their community centers. Early visits included horse drawn sleigh rides and visits from Santa. Volunteers come primarily from the Jacksonville Church of Christ and through Hands on Jacksonville. It has been encouraging to see the families and their children give of their time on Christmas Eve. They often remark how great it is to be giving to others and to teach their own children important lessons.

The past two years we have partnered with the Magic Johnson Center and Hilltop Village Apts., home of our Saturday Academy Team Works Program. Over 350 children live in the complex and are happy to enjoy the evening as Santa is sure to appear. It was encouraging to see members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office support our effort and make sure that other families in the neighborhood were served.

Loretta Bendt, one of our volunteers remarked, “I love helping give toys to children at Christmas time. The greatest joy comes from seeing their little faces light up with hope and to see the relief in the parent’s eyes and gratefulness. The other part I love is to see the joy in the other volunteer’s faces (including their children). Its a reminder to all of us the real meaning of Christmas....Love in Action is the true fulfillment for a Christian. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to serve in this way!”

We have also been blessed this year to have members of the Jacksonville Jaguar Foundation office participate who have selected a number of deserving children from our Saturday Academy Team Works Program for their Angel Tree Program. In the past, groups such as employees from Tommy Hilfiger purchased gifts for the children and presented them at a separate special party.

Christmas is a special time of year and we are fortunate to have great friends and partners who have and continue to support this program. The smiles of the children say it all.

You can help! Click here to learn more about the Season of Service.