Charities Supported by the Ponte Vedra Woman's Club

In light of COVID-19, our charities have urgent needs that YOU can help fill.

See below for ways you can help and please check back every few days for updates.

Betty Griffin Center in desperate need of baby wipes and diapers size 4-5-6. If you are able to locate any of these items it would be great. If you do, the CEO Joyce Mahr is happy to make arrangements to pick them up. Her phone # is 904-808-8544 x204 or send to: Betty Griffin Center, Attn: Joyce Mahr, 2450 Old Moultrie Road, Ste. 202, St. Augustine, Florida 32086

BEAM is asking for financial contributions toward their “Virtual Food Drive” so that they can purchase food at a reduced cost for their clients. Given the rush on the grocery stores, the donations of food from those same stores have been reduced. Cash donations avoid the risk of cross infection through shopping and dropping food items at BEAM. Visit www.jaxbeam.org/covid19-donations to donate to BEAM.

SAYS will be opening the pool on campus early to keep the boys active and happy while schools are closed. They and are in need of summer items like swim trunks, slides, beach towels, and sunscreen. Please consider ordering from Walmart or Amazon and having the items delivered directly: St Augustine Youth Services, 201 Simone Way, St. Aug FL 32086

Hugs Across the County knows that many Title 1 students do not have books in their homes and very concerned about the lack of enrichment materials in students' homes during extended school closures. They are purchasing brand new, popular children's books for Title 1 elementary schools to distribute to students when they pick up their free meals. Due to social distancing, they are not collecting book donations, instead they are ordering from Amazon and shipping directly to school principals who will distribute to as many kids as possible next week. Visit http://www.stjohnshugs.org/give to make a cash donation toward books.

The Ponte Vedra Woman's Club is a 501(c)3 charitable organization run entirely by volunteers. We work hard raising funds at our events throughout the club year, which runs through the end of May. Our selected charities receive their distribution in May and our scholarship recipients are announced at that time.

Throughout the year, from time to time, our members also donate specific items needed by charities. This can take many forms, from filling the holiday wish lists for children at one or more of our charities, to collecting school supplies, clothing items, or baby needs, for example.

PVWC chooses charities each year to support. This year's charities include:

Betty Griffin House: Shelter for victims of Domestic Violence and/or Sexual Assault

Mission House: Day facility addressing the needs of the homeless of the Beaches and fostering a path back to productive and self sufficient lives

St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS): Shapes the future of Florida's at-risk youth by providing coaching, counseling and care in family style group homes and through outpatient community service

Hugs Across the County: Meeting the need of impoverished youth in St. John's County

BEAM: Helping low income residents in Jacksonville's beach communities

Florida School for the Deaf and Blind: Educating students from all over Florida, tuition-free

Other charities that PVWC has supported in the past include:

Gabriel House of Care: Provides affordable temporary housing to medical patients from out of town

Rethreaded: Benefits victims of human trafficking through business

Beaches Habitat for Humanity: Builds or refurbishes homes for qualified families in need

Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach: Bringing the arts into the life of our community

Haiti Relief Fund: Providing disaster relief and humanitarian aid to Haitian earthquake victims

St Francis House: Assisting the homeless in St. Augustine

Youth Crisis Center: Safe shelter and support for at-risk children and youth in the Jacksonville area

Expanding Your Horizons: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) conference for girls in 5th-8th grade

Charities are invited to apply for assistance. Applications are evaluated in March and April for selection in May to receive their funding the following May. Download your application here. Application deadline is March 1st. Applications are now being accepted for the 2020-21 Club year, for funding disbursement in May 2021.

To make a donation to support our work,

Or mail your check to:

PVWC

Attn: Ways and Means

P.O. Box 957

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32004