HOPE worldwide

HOPE worldwide-Jacksonville volunteers began here in 1995 providing health and education services to aid the elderly, poor, & children with a variety of services. Some of these activities include the establishment of a Saturday Academy Program providing education, nutrition, and positive mentors for at risk children; Positive Choice, an abstinence based program for teens; regular blood drives; a clothes closet; feeding the homeless & refugee families; partnership with the annual Children's Christmas Party of Jacksonville; Lap robes and days of service for the elderly; the Ronald McDonald House; Serving Senior programs; a partnership with Lutheran Social Services for a summer camp for refugee children and much more. Five HOPE worldwide – Jacksonville volunteers also served in Thailand for Tsunami Relief work in June of 2005.

HOPE worldwide – Jacksonville received the 2005 Volunteer Jacksonville Heart of Gold Award for faith based organizations. Two of their volunteers were also recognized with the Heart of Gold Senior Award at the same celebration by Volunteer Jacksonville.

In addition, their six regularly scheduled Blood Drives have been recognized as a Best New Program among faith based / church groups as well as twice receiving the Chairperson of the Year for faith based / church groups.

HOPE worldwide volunteers have been encouraged by the opportunities they have had to serve others. They have a great reputation in the community as being volunteers who are dependable. They not only show up when they are supposed to but serve with a generous heart. HOPE worldwide volunteers are known as people who make a genuine difference in the lives of children as evidenced by the relationship built with the students at their Saturday Academy. The Director of the Magic Johnson Center where the Saturday Academy is held noted how quickly his kids developed trust in just a short period of time and the positive influence that is for the children.