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Ten years ago , a group of moms wanted to help out at Website Elementary , a Title 1 school in St . Johns County . They volunteered at the school one or two times a week . They quickly took notice of how excited the kids were to see them , running to greet them with hugs when they went . They saw that children came to school in painfully small clothing and shoes , that they lacked school supplies and that they were hungry . These amazing women stepped up and helped .
Over the past 10 years , Founder Brette Reiman has established an all-volunteer , 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance to St . Johns County children in-need . Their programs address lack of clothing , food and books , and they now have a Girls Empowerment Program . Students are recommended for their programs by the St . Johns County school counselors and homeless liaisons .
I had the pleasure of speaking with co-directors Rachel Erickson and Angie Clark . They each have two elementary school children in St . Johns schools , and this mission is close to their hearts .
Rachel and Angie were kind enough to tell us about their programs .
Clothing Program : The Clothing Program provides a full week of clothes , shoes and needed toiletries to students in need .
Food Program : Hugs St . Johns operates food pantries in 10 schools and at the Boys & Girls Club . They cover snacks and food for weekends when school meals are not available . They also sponsor No Hungry Holidays , during which 1,200 to 1,400 bags of food are distributed to cover a period when those in need frequently go hungry without the assistance of school-provided meals .
Book Program : Do you remember the excitement of holding a book that is all your own ? Hugs St . Johns works with First Books to give books to early elementary students . Many of these children have no books of their
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