Holiday Giving by Schools
and the Community
SJCSD High Schools
This year schools in St. Johns County will be working
in collaboration for “Toys for Tots” in a high school
competition to collect toys for children in need during the
holidays. Each high school that would like to participate
will have a collection box dropped off on November 1.
The competition will run November 1 –December 2. On
December 3, whichever school collects the most toys will
be awarded a 6ft trophy and declared the winner of the
competition.
Mill Creek Academy
Mill Creek Academy will be sponsoring its annual Food
Drive to benefit St. Francis House, October 28 -November
16. They will deliver the food collected and take a tour
of the facilities. Student Council will also help host a
Veterans Day lunch for the veterans in their community on
November 8.
Julington Creek Elementary School
Staff Food Drive in November for local food pantry.
Angel Tree – families donate toys to local needy students.
Joy Fund Holiday Cards – staff donate money and receive
holiday cards. Gift cards are purchased for 3-4 needy JCE
families with the donations.
Patriot Oaks Academy
Conducts a school wide canned food drive for families at
South Woods Elementary for the holidays.
Wards Creek Elementary
For our most needy families
(homeless), we have a school-
wide Giving Tree Drive.
Community Support
At Wards Creek we utilize
several organizations for
Christmas – Fire Fighters
for Families and Christ’s Church Christmas shop. Our
Lady of Good Counsel Church also provides food for
identified families for both Thanksgiving and Christmas
(along with Friday Snack Packs).
W.D. Hartley Elementary School
Hartley Giving Tree
Community Support
Hartley Elementary has provided holiday assistance for
families utilizing several programs. For Thanksgiving,
the Shores First United Methodist Church and Jr.
League have provided meals/gift cards for turkeys.
During the December holidays, we use Firefighters for
Families/Salvation Army, Shores First United Methodist
Church and No Hungry Holidays (Hugs) to provide food
and gifts for our students and families.
South Woods Elementary School
SWES Staff and Bus Drivers - Provides gifts for many of
our students.
Community Support
Christ Episcopal Church at Serenata - Provides 60 frozen
turkeys and bags of food for Thanksgiving.
Memorial Presbyterian Church - Provides Christmas gifts
for over 130 students and volunteers to help sort and
pass out food and gifts.
Center for Spiritual Living -Provides Christmas gifts for
25 students and volunteers to help pass out gifts.
Rotary Club in Hastings - Provides gifts for 10 families.
SJCSD Human Resource Dept - Has offered
to fill in any gaps and last-minute needs.
Sertoma 2 nd Time Around - Allows SWES
to fill a paper bag filled with gifts for free.
These are set up for some of our students
who then can pick out Christmas gifts for
two family members.
Anastasia Baptist Church Elkton provides
turkeys for SWES staff.
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