JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville-based charity is doing a lot of work to help one of the city’s most vulnerable groups and is turning its attention to another outreach in a few months.
The founders of “Beyond Tomorrow” are planning to hold a clothing drive in December, and there are ways the public can help.
Inside their warehouse in Middleburg Sunday morning, four women were brainstorming, organizing, and working to iron out the final details for a planned clothing drive in Jacksonville in December.
Monique Walker, LaKenya Graham, Mehkya Moss and Sharon Basley established Beyond Tomorrow, which is a charity they started in November 2022 to help the homeless population and those in transitional housing.
Graham, who is the chief financial officer, said this mission started after they saw something they felt was unacceptable.
“We were actually going to a concert. Kirk Franklin was in town and we saw a huge homeless presence heading toward VyStar [Veterans Memorial] Arena,” she said. “We were like, ‘There is something that has to be done. We can do something.’”
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Graham said their work took off soon after that. Since then, they have held just shy of 10 different outreach events.
Their work included giving free haircuts, hosting clothing drives and providing access to free food and even showers.
Graham said Beyond Tomorrow is diverse in its events.
They have done other things like giving away school uniforms for students whose families could not afford them, putting together anti-bullying seminars and hosted fitness sessions for women focusing on improving their health.
“Our mission is to be a voice for the people, like the unhoused and the men and women who are in transition,” Graham said. We would always like to be a voice for them, dignify them, and extend hope to them beyond tomorrow.”
Graham, Walker, who is the director, Moss, who is the president and Basley, who serves as the administrator and secretary, said they always welcome donations from people in the community and sponsors. But they want those they help to know a few things.
“We hope that the people do remember that we see them, we care about them and there is hope beyond tomorrow,” Graham said.
Those who want to help Beyond Tomorrow can call at 904-210-7916, email at btomorrowinc@gmail.com , or even drop off donations directly to them at their P.O. Box located at 9526 Argyle Forest Boulevard, Suite 376, in Jacksonville.
Beyond Tomorrow is also willing to pick up donations.