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2021

     Backpacks for Homeless High School Seniors Enrolling in Higher Education  May 2021
Thank you to all who contributed to the Backpack Project. Anti-theft backpacks packed with insulated water bottles, academic calendars and gift cards were delivered May 10th to the St. Johns County School District A.S.S.I.S.T. Program for distribution to the Homeless High School Seniors Enrolling in Higher Education. The backpacks serve as recognition of the students' hard work and accomplishments despite all odds. The backpacks also serve as encouragement as they continue their efforts to fulfill their education goals as they work towards a future of greater opportunities and experiences. Scholarships to help defray college tuition were awarded to two of these students. We extend best wishes to all of these students as they work to improve their futures. ​Thank you to Michael Israel, District Homeless Liaison, and Mitchell Moody for their continuing assistance and dedication to these students.
                                 Sunscreen and Insect Repellent Needed​!    Summer 2021
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Summer weather brings the challenge of sun burns and biting insects. Homeless individuals living out of their cars, on the streets or in the woods can benefit from donations of sunscreen products and insect repellent. These items can be dropped off at locations such as Home Again St. Johns on SR 210 or St. Francis House in St. Augustine. Monetary donations can also be made on their websites. If you hold a neighborhood drive for these items, please contact president @stjohnscares.org or 904-507-7740 if you would like assistance in picking up and delivering a collection of these items.
                                                Alpha-Omega Miracle Home        May 2021
Alpha-Omega Miracle Home in St. Augustine helps women of all ages and their children through difficult circumstances. They have a group of apartments where a community of young mothers and other women find healing and make progress towards independence. Currently clothing dryers are needed for two apartments. if you or someone you know has a working dryer to donate, please call 904-823-8588.
5/21/21 update: Thank you to the donor of two used clothes dryers.
​Alpha-Omega also needs the following: new or gently used crib mattresses (mattresses only) for crib & toddler bed frames. Also in need of a trundle bed, a dark color leather (wipeable) couch & chair or couch & loveseat and 3-4 tall dressers.
                           

The Mask Cannot Hide the Smile    August 2021   ​

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The mask cannot hide the smile of Malinda Peeples, Executive Director of SEA Community Center in Elkton, as she accepts the recent donation of 50 new backpacks & school supplies for children in the Armstrong, Elkton, Spuds & Hastings area of southwest St. Johns County. The donated items were provided by the Monat Global Gratitude Program to St. Johns CARES, Inc. for needy school children so they may have a good start to the upcoming school year. The goal of the SEA Community Center this year, as in past years, is to provide several hundred children with new backpacks & supplies.
The aim of the Monat Global Gratitude Program is to generate positive change by partnering with organizations in the areas of education, children & families. The Gratitude Program also donated to St. Johns CARES personal hygiene products, insect repellent & sunscreen for distribution through local Homeless organizations & contributed to St. Johns CARES scholarship fund for St. Johns County School District homeless students enrolling in higher education.

2021 Food Drive Host Donations Collection Sites: September - November

$18,100 in non-perishable food and paper product donations was distributed to 5 Food Pantries (Christ's Cupboard in Fruit Cove, St. Francis House/Port in the Storm & Pie in the Sky in St. Augustine, SEA Community Center in Elkton & Shepherd's Haven in Hastings). Thank you to our Host Donation Collection Sites for making this year's Drive possible. Individual drive dates vary by location. Please note many of these sites are not open to the general public. Please check with a specific site you are interested in. If you are interested in holding a neighborhood drive at any time, please email  [email protected].
Ponte Vedra Beach: Rawlings Elementary School, ATRIUM Surf Side Apts., KinderCare Ponte Vedra, Publix Palm Valley, Primrose School at Crosswater Pkwy, The Learning Experience Nocatee, Spavia, KinderCare Nocatee, A Fun Place to Be
Race Track Rd & Longleaf Pine Area: Kiddie Academy St. Johns, Bartram Academy, Publix Bartram Market, KinderCare Fruit Cove, Deerwood Academy, O2B Kids Durbin Creek, Chappell School Longleaf Pine, Ladybird Academy St. Johns
Fruit Cove: Anytime Fitness, Kid City USA-San Jose, Primrose School Julington Creek, Julington Creek Plantation Recreation Center
CR 210: Earth Fare, Primrose St. Johns Forest
St. Augustine: O2B Kids Palencia, Elkton Academy, Brighton Day Academy, Brandt's Child Care Center, Castle Brook Academy, Enchanted Forest Academy, Rain River Learning, Lighthouse Prep, Ancient City Gymnastics
Individual Neighborhood Drives:
​Kim Ness & Family (Julington Lakes) , Lauren Bronich-Hall (St. Johns Forest) , Ethan & Irma Chang

2021 Turkey Trot  November 25th

Thank you to the sponsors and volunteers for making this year's Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Morning in Nocatee such a success. Special Thank You to Psych Ed Connections for holding this annual event and supporting St. Johns CARES.

2021 Annual Giving Tree Initiative  November - December

Thank you to the St. Johns County Community. Because of your generosity 41 nonprofit organizations in the County serving the Elderly, Veterans, Homeless, Abused, Children and Animals were able to make their clients' holidays and upcoming months more enjoyable.
Over $64,000 of donated items and gift cards were distributed to these nonprofit organizations in December.
Thank you to the donors, host donation collection sites and our volunteers in helping with our Mission of Uniting the Community Through Helping Others in Need
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 2022

​PET FOOD DRIVE

In March & April pet food, accessories & towels were collected and distributed to six animal non-profit organizations. Three Food Pantries received pet food for their clients with pets so that the owners did not have to share their own limited food supplies. Thank you to the donors, host donation collection sites and our volunteers for making this drive successful and helping animals in St. Johns County.

Esteem Women's Center

On Saturday, April 9th a team of volunteers helped Esteem Women's Center staff more easily meet the needs of their clients by completing organizational tasks in the office and storeroom.
Esteem Women's Center (formerly known as Life Services) in St. Augustine is a free pregnancy clinic providing a wide range of services for women experiencing unexpected pregnancies, as well as referrals to community resources.

​ALPHA - OMEGA MIRACLE HOME

On Wednesday, April 27th a team of volunteers worked at the Alpha Omega Miracle Home Community Center. Assistance provided: surface cleaning of rooms & floors, counting & marking diaper bundles, weeding & power washing the enclosed playground. These were tasks that would have taken the staff's valuable time away from helping their clients.
Alpha Omega Miracle Home is St. Augustine pairs a single mother with children with a senior woman who are in poverty, homeless, in an abusive relationship or trying to find a safe and supportive shelter. The paired women and children share a small apartment while working towards improving their lives, learning life skills and receiving encouragement and support. Their motto is a hand up, not a hand out.

Helping Christ Cupboard Food Bank

On Saturday, May 14th volunteers helped pick up, transport and mark the Postal Workers Food Drive donations for Christ Cupboard at 810 Roberts Rd, Fruit Cove. This helped many in need in the community.

Backpacks for Homeless Unaccompanied Youth Enrolling In Higher Education: May 2022

New backpacks with needed supplies and gift cards were provided to the St. Johns County School District ASSIST Program for graduating homeless unaccompanied high school students enrolling in higher education. The backpacks serve as recognition of the students' hard work and accomplishments despite all odds. The backpacks also serve as encouragement as they continue their education goals for a future of greater opportunities and experiences.
Thank you to the donors and volunteers making this project successful.

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) Added to our Master List of Nonprofit Organizations

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine provides education and life skills on their campus to approximately 1,000 children from throughout Florida. 50-75 of these children are from economically challenged families. Education, meals, lodging and transportation Monday through Friday are covered by State funds. St. Johns CARES donated $1,000 to help the children with non-covered needs of clothing, personal hygiene items and school supplies. We welcome Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind as our newest nonprofit partner. ​

Home Again St. Johns

Last year Home Again St. Johns was relocated by the County to allow use of their previous location for development of low income housing. The present location lacks potable water and adequate shower facilities. Many of the clients have paying jobs but cannot afford rent and are living in their cars or in the woods. Grant money has been approved by the County Commissioners for a permanent location with facilities for meals, showers and clothes washing. The earliest this can occur is 1.5 years from now. St. Johns CARES donated $1,000 to help cover the cost of a safe outside hot water shower shielded from the elements.

Port in the Storm Homeless Young Adult Shelter

Port in the Storm/ St. Francis House in St. Augustine is a 16-bed night shelter for homeless young adults 18-24 years of age. Port in the Storm provides a safe place to stay, life skills training, counseling, basic needs, job skills and housing assistance.
Many months ago the building was flooded, necessitating renovation and replacement. St. Johns CARES donated $500 towards replacement of some comfort items lost.

Annual Food Drive  October & November 2022

28 businesses, schools and day care centers served as host donation collection sites for nonperishable food donations. $6,400 pf donated food was distributed to Food Pantries in St. Johns County: Christ's Cupboard  in Fruit Cove, St. Francis House & Pie in the Sky in St. Augustine, SEA community in Armstrong/Elkton area and Shepherd's Haven in Hastings. 

7th Annual Turkey Trot Race: November 24, 2022

The Psych Ed Connections 7th Annual Turkey Trot Race on Thanksgiving morning was once again a fun, family-friendly event. 39 St. Johns CARES Volunteers helped make this fun, family-friendly race a success again this year.

Giving Tree 2022

52 Businesses, Neighborhoods, Schools, Day Care Centers and Library Branches served as host donation collection sites for donated items to cover the wishes and needs of clients of 40 nonprofit organizations on our Master List. These organizations serve our target populations of the Elderly, Veterans, Homeless, Abused, Children and Animals in St. Johns County. A nonprofit client wish was placed on a Giving Tree tag and displayed at the host donation sites. $62,843 of items and gift cards from the host sites and individual donations were distributed to our nonprofit partners. The generosity of the Community, host sites and our volunteers helped the organizations meet the needs and wishes of their clients for the holidays and into 2023.
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​2023

​Annual Pet Food Drive April 2023

22 Day Care Centers, Libraries, Fitness & Recreation Centers and other businesses, 2 neighborhood drives, Ponte Vedra High School St. Johns CARES Club and Florida Prime Sports Spring Fest served as this year's Pet Food Drive collection sites. $5,100 of pet food and treats was collected and distributed to non-profit animal organizations Ayla's Acres, Feline Canopy of Care, S.A.F.E., St. Augustine Humane Society, Wags & Whiskers, Swamp Haven and to Pie in the Sky, serving homebound elderly with pets. Thank you to the donation sites, donors and to our volunteers who collected, sorted and loaded donations. Each organization was very appreciative of the car load of donations at a time when their supplies were low.

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May 2023 Backpacks for Unaccompanied High School Seniors Enrolled in Higher Education

​Thanks to the generosity of our donors, 10 Homeless High School Seniors enrolled in College or Trade School received new backpacks, academic planner, water bottle and a gift card as recognition of their pursuit of their educational goals and a more promising future. A scholarship was awarded to one of these students to help with school expenses.

Project School Snack Pantry

Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, St. Johns CARES is regularly supplying snacks to a St. Johns County school with a high concentration of students with food insecurities.
Studies have shown that children and teens need to eat every 3-4 hours, making snacks an important part of their day. Snacks can help improve students' school engagement, sense of belonging, equality among students, improvement in attendance and retention.
Community assistance will be needed to help supply the snacks. Donations from individuals, workgroups and other organizations and neighborhood drives will be needed to make this program successful.
Donations received during the current academic year will be delivered to the designated school.
If your group or organization is interested in donating snacks on a one time or on-going basis, please contact [email protected].

Florida Prime Sports Donates to Project School Snack Pantry: August 2023

This is a portion of the donations made by Florida Prime Sports for Project School Snack Pantry. We greatly appreciate Florida Prime Sports ongoing support of our Initiatives and our Mission of Uniting the Community Through Helping Others in Need in St. Johns County.
In total, over $1,000 in snacks were delivered to St. Augustine High School by St. Johns CARES, Inc. for the start of school in August.
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Annual Food Drive: October & November 2023

$8,888.50 of nonperishable food was distributed to the following Food Pantries: Christ Cupboard (Fruit Cove), Pie in the Sky, St. Francis House/Port in the Storm, Homeless Coalition (St. Augustine), SEA Community (Elkton) & The Simon House (Hastings). 
Thank you to the following host donation sites: A Fun Place to Be, Ancient City Gymnastics, Anytime Fitness, Bartram Academy, Brighton Day Academy, Deerwood Academy, Goddard School of St. Augustine, JCP Rec Center, Kiddie Academy of St. Johns, KinderCare Fruit Cove, KinderCare Nocatee, Ladybird Academy St Johns, Library-Ponte Vedra Branch, O2B Kids Village North, Plantation Dry Cleaners, Primrose School at Crosswater Parkway, Primrose School Julington Creek, Primrose School of St. Johns Forest, Rain River Learning, The Learning Exchange Nocatee, UPS: SR 13, Palencia, Rivertown.
Thank you for the neighborhood drives: the Gooding Family and the White Family (Anthony & Annabelle) pictured below.
Thank you to Florida Prime Sports and St. Johns Moms for food collection at the October 21st Not So Spooky Market Bash at the Rivertown Sports Field.
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​The Little Gym of Fruit Cove Children's Winter Clothes Donations

The Little Gym of Fruit Cove located at 2750 Race Track Rd. is in the process of collecting new and gently used children's winter clothing. In one month they collected 6 huge storage bags of clothing that was distributed to Alpha-Omega Miracle Home, Betty Griffin Crisis Center and the Homeless Coalition. Their plan is to continue to collect children's clothing donations through the end of this year. The clothing donations were greatly appreciated and will help keep children warm this winter.
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17th Annual Giving Tree Initiative November & December 2023

Forty-five (45) Host Sites participated in our 17th Annual Giving Tree Initiative in November and December. Over $53,000 of items and gift cards were shared with 40 nonprofit organizations in St. Johns County serving our target populations of the Elderly, Veterans, Homeless, Abused, Children & Animals. The organizations were so appreciative of the Community support. Not only did the donations help meet the needs and wishes of their clients at the holidays, the donations will also help many of the organizations for many months in 2024. From socks, clothing and toiletries for the homeless, pet food for homebound elderly so they do not have to share their own food supplies with their beloved pets to diapers, car seats and clothing for infants, all are being put to good use.
One of the images of this year's Giving Tree was that of a young girl receiving a pink bike with training wheels and pink streamers. The smile on the girl's face and the joy of her Mother as she rode the bike for the first time was priceless. They did not know where the bike came from but they did greatly appreciate the generosity. This is just one example of the positive effect the donations made at the holidays and in the future.
Thank you to all of the Host Sites and their patrons, neighborhoods and donors for the generosity and support. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly and with good spirits to collect, inventory, sort and distribute the donations. 
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2024

Home Made Cards for Elderly: February 2024

The Junior Honor Society of Pine Island Academy, St. Augustine, created greeting cards with words of encouragement for the elderly. The cards were delivered to Pie n the Sky for inclusion with food donations delivered to homebound elderly in St. Johns County. Thank you to the thoughtfulness of the Pine Island Academy Junior Honor Society.

Florida Prime Sports & St. Johns Moms Kick Off Annual St. Johns CARES Pet Food Drive: March

Pet food donations were encouraged of participants of the Springfest on March 23, 2024 sponsored by Florida Prime Sports and the St. Johns Moms organization. This was a great kick-off to our Annual Pet Food Drive. Thank you to Florida Prime Sports and St. Johns Moms for their ongoing assistance with our Mission of Uniting the Community Through Helping Others in Need.   ​Thank you to the teen volunteers who helped load the donations.
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2024 Annual Pet Food Drive: April 1st - 24th

Not only are animal shelters in great need of pet food, individuals seeking assistance at local food pantries are also concerned about their pets. Unfortunately some are forced to make very hard decisions to give up their furry companions or give part of their own meager food supplies to their pets. Senior citizens in particular are more likely to give up their own food to geed their pets at the cost of their own nutritional needs.
21 Local businesses, neighborhoods and individuals holding neighborhood drives served as host sites for donations of pet food. $3,326 of pet food and supplies was distributed to six animal organizations (Ayla's acres, Feline Canopy of Care, S.A.F.E, St. Augustine Humane Society, Swamp Haven and Wags & Whiskers). Pet food was also shared with Pie in the Sky organization for their homebound elderly clients with pets.   ​Thank you to the generosity of the Community and host sites.

Backpacks For 2024 Homeless High School Seniors Enrolling in Further Formal Education 

New backpacks with academic planners, insulated water bottles and gift cards was provided to 15 Homeless High School students in St. Johns County enrolling in college or trade school. The backpacks are an acknowledgement of the students' accomplishments against challenging circumstances and encouragement as they pursue their goals and a better future.

Scholarships for Homeless High School Students Enrolled in Higher Education​

Each year St. Johns CARES, Inc. awards scholarships to homeless student applicants applying for further education after high school graduation in St. Johns County. The students may be attending college or a trade school. This year 3 students were awarded scholarships to help with education costs. Each student will receive scholarship money for up to 4 years of schooling. Along with the 2022 and 2023 scholarship awardees, this brings the total number of students currently receiving St. Johns CARES scholarships to five.

​School Snack Pantry Project: Academic Year 2023-2024

With the generosity of host sites and monetary donations from the Community, snacks, hygiene products, school supplies and gift cards were delivered on a monthly basis to St. Augustine High School for the Snack Pantry for students with food insufficiencies for academic year 2023-2024. The positive results included improved school attendance & participation, overall behavior and self-esteem. This program started by Amy Huber, Academic Dean St. Augustine High School, has been such a success that other schools in the County and elsewhere have sought information on starting their own Snack Pantries. St. Johns CARES total donations delivered for the academic year was $8,870. St. Augustine High School has approximately 100+ students with food insufficiencies.
Thank you to all who made this possible.
Starting in early August we will resume monthly deliveries to the St. Augustine High School School Snack Pantry for academic year 2024-2025.
Anyone interested in providing snacks in single servings and/or monetary donations should email [email protected].
As donations permit, we will include another St. Johns County School District school with a high number of food insufficient students.

Annual Food Drive: October 1 - November 22

21 Host Sites, 3 Neighborhoods (Coastal Oaks, St. Johns Lakes, Reserve at Greenbriar) and at the Spooky Market Bash supported by the St. Johns Moms  & Florida Prime Sports collected non-perishable food donations totaling $7,445. The donations helped fill food pantry shelves at Christ Cupboard (Fruit Cove, S.E.A. Community(Armstrong) and Port in the Storm/St. Francis House, Pie in the Sky & the Homeless Coalition St. Johns (St. Augustine).
Thank you to the host sites, neighborhoods, St. Johns Moms & FL Prime Sports and our volunteers for helping with our Annual Food Drive to help those in need .

18th Annual Giving Tree Initiative

The 2024 Giving Tree Initiative far exceeded our expectations in a year that saw many non-profit organizations struggling to meet the growing needs and wishes of their clients. Over $77,000 of items, gift cards and monetary donations were distributed to our Non-Profit Partner Organizations. The donations were collected at 43 host sites and from individual donors. 
Our Non-Profit Partner Organizations serving our target populations of the Elderly, Veterans, Homeless, Abused, Children, and Animals were amazed and very grateful for the donations they received for their clients. The smiles and excitement shown by the representatives of these organizations as they realized the extent of their share of the donations was contagious. The donations helped provide their clients with wonderful holidays and for many, extras to help with needs in 2025.
This would not have been possible without the generosity of the host sites, donors and the hard work of our volunteers.
Thank you to all for the support and assistance in helping us with our Mission of Uniting the Community Through Helping Others in Need.
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@ 2015 St. Johns CARES.  All Rights Reserved.
Website by
Ebony Williams
​ ST. JOHNS CARES, INC. IS A 501(c)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGNAIZATION. YOUR GIFT IS  TAX DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.  .A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE.  
​REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE
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St. Johns CARES, INC.
a 501(c)(3) organization
EIN 26-1163696

 450-106 State Road 13 N. #165,
St. Johns, FL 32259
(904) 507-7740
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