JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville's homeless men, women, and children will be getting 5,000 pairs of socks on Thursday.
Bombas Socks donated 75,000 pairs of socks to 25 Family Promise Affiliates. Family Promise of Jacksonville received 5,000 and will share 4,000 with nine partner agencies on the First Coast.
Beth Mixson with Family Promise of Jacksonville says she's excited to share the socks with these organizations. "These agencies are making a difference in our community. And we want the socks to be on people's feet because when your feet are warm and dry you just feel better."
Here are the organizations that got the socks:
Catholic Charities Workforce Development - a free program to help low-income, unemployed or underemployed adults find work. They help adults find new employment opportunities through their job readiness training program, interview coaching, and job referrals.
Changing Homelessness: Formed in 1974 by a group of concerned and engaged social service agencies and religious leaders, Changing Homelessness’ mission is to guide the community effort and build capacity to prevent and end homelessness. Managing $7 million in local, state and federal funds, their work is accomplished by advocating, convening, and educating the community through the Northeast Florida Continuum of Care and initiatives like Built for Zero.
Empowerment Resources: Since 2002, Empowerment Resources, Inc., a private 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, has empowered more than 1,200 youth and adults in Duval and surrounding counties through its signature programs, Journey Into Womanhood, Life Skills Workshops and Parenting Education Seminars and Coaching. Its programs help meet the needs of the community by exposing families to valuable community resources.
The Giving Closet Project: The Giving Closet Project provides clothing, hygiene products, school supplies to K-12 students that are facing situational poverty or difficult times. They are able to serve students through our unique, referral process that allows educators, counselors and social workers to utilize our services throughout the school year.
Her Song: Her Song provides survivor care for human trafficking survivors in northeast Florida. Services include mental health, case management, advocacy, and a safe environment. It also raises awareness in the community by reaching out to civic groups, faith-based organizations, and the Duval County School system.
The Magnolia Project: The Healthy Start Coalition leads the community effort to reduce infant death and improve the well-being of children, childbearing women, fathers and their families in Northeast Florida. The Coalition is a recognized model for community involvement, collaboration and innovative services to significantly decrease infant death and have strong, healthy families in Northeast Florida.
New Town: New Town Success Zone serves as the catalyst by which families and children living in the New Town neighborhood can be connected seamlessly with programs and services that afford families the opportunity to help their children be the very best they can be.”
See The Girl: The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center partners with girls to ensure that policymakers, professionals and communities hear their truth and take action to create a more just system.
The core services of the Policy Center are grounded in rigorous research initiatives to inform the advocacy platform, training and technical assistance, and the development and implementation of direct service model programming along the continuum to provide prevention, court diversion, treatment, and residential and re-entry services for girls in the juvenile justice system.
Squat for Change: Squat for Change is a grassroots organization pushing for social and legislative change that ensures no matter which restroom you use, you never have to put your back against a wall to change a baby. SFC is leading the charge to ensure all members of the family have access to safe, clean changing tables in public restrooms around the world.
UCom Jacksonville: Stabilizing families in crisis, providing food security for the hungry, and empowering the community to meet neighbors’ needs. They do this through Meals on wheels to the housebound, emergency services to prevent homelessness, scholarship programs and job referrals to raise earning potential, and a food pantry to make sure bellies are full.
Family Promise of Jacksonville is a nonprofit organization with the goal of helping families experiencing homelessness to return to stability.
In its 2014 report, the State of Florida’s Council on Homelessness reported over 1,800 homeless persons in Duval County alone.