JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sunday marked a day of family fun, Christmas gifts and health resources as a Jacksonville nonprofit celebrated its 10th Community Christmas Party.
Jewels of the Future has put on this part at the Cutz, Linez and Trimz barbershop on Moncrief Road to serve the community with love for the holidays and holistic resources.
This was the first time that Kenya Williams had attended the Christmas party.
“It’s a lot of activities for the kids to do, we’re walking around, my baby got at least three gift bags and this little toy,” Williams said. “They also had stuff for women like Plan B and other menstrual items.”
Another parent said she was glad to get out of the house and have fun with her one-year-old.
“She got a book and some learning stuff, it’s so fun out here, they have face painting, a train ride with the kids, other vendors,” Sateria Flood said.
The party had guest appearances from The Grinch and Chase from Paw Patrol. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department had a fire truck where kids took pictures while holding the fire hose. There were also bikes and other gifts given away in a raffle, putting smiles on the faces of kids and their parents.
Seeing those smiles is something Renita Turner, who runs Jewels of the Future with her daughter Diamond Wallace, that brings her great joy.
She said in their first year, their budget was about $150 to $200 and the support has grown over the years from the local community and people who don’t even live in town.
“We are very humble, we are blessed, I can’t say enough about the community, when we come together as a community, there’s literally nothing that we can do,” Turner said. “And because people have always rallied around us and anything that we do that was for the community is always been a success.”
Alicia Ellis has been volunteering at the Christmas parties for all 10 years. She echoed the sentiment of Turner about the community.
“Our party is more than just giving, it’s more about coming together as a community, having fun, giving joy to kids,” Ellis said.
Genesis Taylor has volunteered for all 10 years too.
“It might not seem like a lot from the outside looking in, but it’s the little things like the hot chocolate, the bounce house, the toys, it just makes their Christmas, honestly,” Taylor said.
The nonprofit also announced that Mayor Donna Deegan proclaimed the week of Dec. 13 to 19 as Youth Civic Service Awareness Week in honor of all the work Jewels of the Future has done over the last 10 years.