Hope and support is something that so many strive to provide to their local community each year during the holiday season and one of the many annual events with the goal of doing just that is the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation’s Hope for the Holidays event, which was held on Thursday, Dec. 12.
This year’s event was the 13th annual and the tradition of having it on the grounds of TPC Sawgrass continued.
Volunteers from across the area came out to help pack more than 6,000 bags full of canned and boxed foods for at-risk children and their families to enjoy during the holiday break.
Over the past 13 years, the foundation has continued to watch the number of those they help grow thanks to generous donations from the community.
As a result, the number of bags packed has increased to its current 6,000-plus total from 500 in the first year of the initiative.
It was a festive scene with holiday vibes resonating throughout as families of volunteers went through the multiple lines to pack their bags and in many cases were decked out in holiday attire while Christmas music played over the speakers.
It was a common sight to see people singing whichever classic Christmas tune was playing while they went from table to table to fill their bags.
The food packed will go to a variety of organizations across St. Johns, Duval and Clay Counties.
Some of the organizations the event has contributed food to in the past include Blessings in a Backpack, Guardian Catholic School, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Daniel Kids, Community PedsCare, Hubbard House, and Jewish Family and Community Services.
