8th Annual “Hope for the Holidays” Packs 4,000 Bags of Food

8th Annual “Hope for the Holidays” Packs 4,000 Bags of Food

2019 is coming to an end with the last break of the school year. The problem isn’t just who feeds the kids this weekend, but who will feed the kids during winter break?

At the 8th annual ‘Hope for the Holidays’ packing event hosted by the Jim and Tabitha Fuyrk Foundation, volunteers packed more than 4,000 bags of food.

“We started this event eight years ago, when my kids were small, to provide a way for children to help others,” said Tabitha Furyk.

The event started promptly at 5:30 p.m., and by 7 p.m., all the food was packed into bags, delivery trucks were filled, and the tables were taken down. The bags included shelf-stable holiday-type food items for families to prepare—including canned ham, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and gravy—and special holiday treats for the kids, like hot chocolate and candy canes.

The students in Duval and St. Johns County, Fl., were thrilled when they received their holiday bags with many treats to take home over the break!

“We were very aware of the rising food insecurity facing students in North Florida,” said Furyk. “Unfortunately, the numbers of those in need continue to rise every year. The [Jim and Tabitha Furyk] Foundation has adopted two schools for whom we provide weekend food bags throughout the year. This event is a way for us to do more and involve the community.”

Thank you, Furyk Foundation, and all who were involved in the packing event — Tager, Pepsi, Quaker, Conagra, and Safe and Fair — for your support.

Learn more about this annual event supporting Blessings in a Backpack’s First Coast Chapter via jimandtabithafurykfoundation.com.