JACKSONVILLE, Fla – The first PositivelyJAX winner of 2024 doesn’t have any motives and is just doing the work with grace literally on the streets of Jacksonville. Jason Ivery, also known as Monster, was motivated by a feeding event that was held just once a year and thought “why not feed people without a house every month?”.
One of my first questions was how did he get the name monster?
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“Oh, so I’ve always been this size. So when I was a freshman at Sandalwood I was still pretty much this size,” says Ivery.
His 9th grade football coach advanced him to the varsity team because he was strong and capable. He nicknamed him Monster and it stuck. “Monster” is an advocate and what he does on the streets of Jacksonville is truly monstrous and straight from the heart. Every first Sunday Ivery and dozens volunteers set up shop across from the Sulzbacher Center to feed the homeless.
“A group of my friends help me put out about 10 tables, and we unpack everything. First there would be drinks like soda water, anything we accumulated and then can goods, food in the middle, hygiene items and at the end it be clothes, shoes and then every now and then we’ll do like a hot meal,” said Ivery.
He was part of a yearly feeding event with his motorcycle club and seeing people on the streets everyday made him want to do more.
“I’ve never been homeless but there have been times and probably everyone goes through this where you feel like you’re alone or you have no one to turn to. So this made me feel like you know, they need something to look forward to, every first Sunday we’re coming,” said Ivery.
Monster publicizes his monthly feeding event on his Facebook page Monster Nolo Riders, he created a Go-Fund me account, and a wish list. Every month the donations keep coming and Ivery stores the items at his home, giving them all away at the end of the month.
“I like helping people out it’s just a good feeling. Because I would never want to be in that predicament. So if I can help. Why not?”, says Ivery.
Jason is working to start a non-profit to sustain the monthly event and he has dreams of getting a mobile truck to set up shop in other parts of the city. He’s hoping to reach more people but for now he’s doing whatever it takes to reach a part of our community often forgotten.