Acts of kindness can no longer just be random; they are essential, everyday actions that are a way of life for From Jacksonville With Love (FJWL).FJWL is a not-for-profit grassroots first response team that provides humanitarian support in the aftermath of disasters. We work to nourish and renew first responders by providing hot meals, needed supplies, and caring conversation. We help give children comfort and fun with toys, games, art supplies, and other simple gifts that bring joy during hard times.
Sometimes it is hard to see the value of living through turmoil and heartache. Sometimes, when everything else is stripped away, all we are left with is the love we share.
From Jacksonville With Love assists in lifting broken communities to a new level possibility so that they, in turn, can pass on their own acts of kindness, continuing a chain reaction of positive transformation in the world.
Beginnings: From Jacksonville With Love was formed by Michael and Mark Smith, concerned brothers who wanted to help, in September 2005 shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit. They set up a drop site in Neptune Beach, Florida and then one in Ponte Vedra, Florida to provide locations for neighboring residents to donate goods. Within just a few weeks, From Jacksonville With Love had sent two 24-foot box trucks and nine tractor-trailer loads of goods and supplies into some of the areas ravaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We served over 15,000 meals and reached over 1500 children with donated toys and comfort cards. The comfort cards came from a project coordinated by Karen Sadler of ArlLife Productions; Jacksonville children from tots to teens created hundreds of comfort cards – made by kids for kids to help them heal. The comfort cards gave kids an outlet for the sadness, confusion, helplessness and concern they had for all the families that have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Mission Statement: From Jacksonville With Love is a grassroots humanitarian non-profit organization that exists to provide care and emotional support in the aftermath of disaster by providing hot meals, needed supplies, and listening ears to first responders, as well as comfort and diversions for children. From Jacksonville With Love’s international component, From US With Love , focuses on strengthening communities in the aftermath of disaster by empowering women and rebuilding hope with children.
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