The Jaguars Foundation held its Second Annual Community Day on Sept. 6 at the Flex Field next to Daily’s Place in downtown Jacksonville, as several local businesses and season ticket members joined forces to pack bags and items for a variety of nonprofit organizations in Northeast Florida.
“We used to always do a ‘back to football’ luncheon, but we were rethinking and wanted to do something community-facing,” said Whitney Meyer, chief community impact officer with the Jaguars. “So, we talked to our sponsors, and we do these type of community events throughout the year, but we all said, ‘how about we do one big one where we all come together to help kick off the season.”
That idea just continues to grow as the numbers of involvement and those in need in the community that were served both increased from the inaugural event to the second year.
“Last year, we had about 200 volunteers and this year we had 450, and we’ve got space for a lot more,” Meyer said. “We are thinking about next year maybe doing a part two in the evening, so that other members in the community can take part after they get off work.”
According to Meyer, the event also gives a chance for smaller nonprofits to get their name out there to local businesses in hopes of presenting opportunities for future partnerships.
One of this year’s smaller nonprofits was Operation New Hope, which strives to provide support along with life and job skills training for people with a history in the criminal justice system.
On the day, nonperishable food items for 1,000 meals were packed for Feeding Northeast Florida, as well as 600 homeless package care kits, 200 military care packages and bookbags filled with school supplies for every student at Andrew Robinson Elementary School in Jacksonville.
A unique aspect of the initiative is that it does not just focus on one area of people in need to help, but instead spreads out the support across multiple platforms, showing that whether one is a veteran, child or homeless, there are many ways where someone can need help and in turn many ways to give back.
“We want people to know it’s not just about football,” Meyer said. “We’re an organization here in Jacksonville and we want to do our part to kick off some good deeds as well.”
