JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sulzbacher Village and VyStar Credit Union teamed up for a back-to-school giveaway for Duval County students on Saturday morning.
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It’s hard to contain Emmy’s excitement for Monday, her first day of voluntary prekindergarten (VPK).
She and her mom, Jamie Lewis, have been living in an apartment at Sulzbacker Village for a little over a year now.
Despite falling on tough times, Lewis said she’s grateful for the resources available.
“It’s great, especially for a parent,” Lewis said. “It closes the gap on what the kids may or may not need. It is awesome. It means a lot to us.”
Emmy and hundreds of other students in Duval County are getting all the supplies they need for this school year.
Suzbacher and VyStar handed out more than 500 backpacks with supplies. Kids were able to get uniforms if they needed them, face paintings, and plenty of food.
“It definitely gives me a piece of mind as a parent,” Lewis said. “It’s a starting point.” Any little thing helps these days.”
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Sulzbacher offers resources including emergency shelter, affordable housing, primary care, dental, and behavioral health.
Sulzbacher’s CEO, Cindy Funkhouser, said she wants the students to have the perfect start to the new year.
“When you go to school, unprepared, it starts the whole year off on the wrong footing,” Funkhouser said. “We want to make sure our kids are on the same footing as everyone else and have a great start to the year.”
She also said it’s a good way to reinforce to the kids that school is positive and it should be celebrated that they’re going back to school.
Sulzbacher Village has been doing back-to-school drives like this for over a decade.
Kemal Gasper is the VP of Community Engagement with VyStar as the credit union partnered with Sulzbacher for the first time this year.
“We are moving a burden,” Gasper said. “We are moving obstacles for parents so that they can focus on other things. When the parents come in, they have a smile on their face, the kids are excited.”
He also talked about how the next generation needs to be nurtured.
“They are the emerging leaders in our city,” Gasper said. “We have to make sure that we wrap our arms around emerging leaders so that we attract educate and retain the next generation of leaders.”
Plenty of smiles, a boost in confidence, and a mind focused on heading to school with everything they received at this bash.
The students including Emmy, feel their message for the new school year is “Bring it on”.