BRINGING CHRISTMAS JOY
TO AREA CHILDREN

JOY To The Children is an all-volunteer organization that helps children in our community celebrate Christmas. During the 1994 holiday season, a group of friends decided to reach out to those families who often struggle to provide the basic necessities for themselves. JOY assists those families who are not served by other agency Christmas programs. Since 1994 JOY has reached out to over 1,800 children and their families.

On Christmas Day children and their families will celebrate at a festively decorated Yulee Middle School auditorium, starting with a traditional mid-day meal. Each child will receive new clothing, bedding, toys, books, stocking stuffers, a backpack, school supplies, and a special surprise gift.

All year JOY's volunteer board organizes this celebration with help from local agencies and teachers to identify participating children and their families. JOY To The Children's 501(c)(3) designation allows our patrons to make tax-deductible donations. Also needed are the hundreds of volunteers that come forward each year to help shop and select clothing and toys, using funds donated to JOY To The Children. How fun is that?! In addition, several hundred Gift Wrappers are needed on the 23rd of December to wrap the hundreds of presents!

On Christmas Day 150 volunteers are also needed. You may be Table Angels, who sit with the families and make sure they receive all of their gifts; Toy Elves, who deliver the toys; or Entertainers who lead carols. Others will help with clean-up and directing parking. With the exception of Table Angels, most volunteer positions require only a few hours of your time. Please join in the fun! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there to greet each family. The Pirates will be there - and last year Santa rode in on a motorcycle!

One volunteer said he received more than enough in return when he overheard one young girl exclaim "How did Santa know this is exactly what I wanted?" Please join your Nassau County neighbors and friends in this truly heartwarming experience.

To donate close to home or to volunteer please call 261-8232, 491-6146 or 321-1419. Or you can mail a donation to: JOY To The Children, P.O. Box 16404, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035.