JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The homeless community is growing in Jacksonville, and one man has started a nonprofit to help make a difference.
Dozens of volunteers from Love Without Limits Inc., along with other community groups, were outside the Duval County jail Sunday morning handing out free food, clothes and hygiene products.
The number of unsheltered people in Jacksonville increased by 43 percent this year compared with 2023, according to the nonprofit Changing Homelessness' point-in-time count from March.
“It’s important because there’s been times in my life, and I’m sure for everyone, where you were down or felt like you were by yourself, you might need some help," said Jason Ivery, the founder of Love Without Limits Inc.
Ivery said he officially got nonprofit status around four months ago and hopes that providing these resources will help people get back on their feet.
In the past, Ivery did food giveaways with his motorcycle club once a year, but it wasn’t long before he realized just how many people needed help.
“When I first started, it was maybe two tables and three people, and now it’s like 20 tables, tents, 30 to 40 volunteers, it’s just growing and growing," Ivery said.
Ivery founded the nonprofit and started doing the giveaways on the first Sunday of every month.
As the need increased, so did the items Ivery gave away. The nonprofit now includes items like clothes, hygiene products and basic essentials in its community giveaways.
“The food, it's kind of like, of course they want it, but hygiene is like high demand for out there," Ivery said.
The nonprofit also partners with a substance abuse program, whose representatives were also helping out on Sunday, handing out information to people in need.
“If I can give my time to help, donations and stuff like that, that’s what I’m going to do," Ivery said.
Anyone looking to volunteer or donate can reach out through the organization's Facebook page.