The Children's Christmas Party of Jacksonville and J.P. Hall Children's Charities, Northeast Florida's biggest toy giveaways, are set for December 17.
Diane Halverson is executive director of the Jacksonville event, which was founded by local philanthropists Travis and Margaret Storey 24 years ago. The pandemic-impacted years were"certainly different," she said. Toys were given to children in afterschool programs run by the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida and Communities in Schools.
Another downside, she said, was that parents whose children were not served by those two nonprofits"had nowhere else to turn to get toys for their kids for two straight Christmases during the pandemic."This year the event returns to the Prime Osborn Convention Center. As many as 5,000 children from needy Duval families will be served, Halverson said.
Halverson said she gets daily calls and emails from struggling families asking about the party. She tries to respond the same day because often the phone number or email address will not be operational the next day. COVID-19 will be in the background, with masks encouraged, but not required."We are still concerned about safety, and we hope anyone not feeling well will stay home or wear a mask," Halverson said.
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