Through Aug. 31, an anonymous member of The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida’s board will match gifts made to the agency up to $20,000.
The goal is to encourage giving in the summer, when donations tend to decline, though the needs of the community are year-round.
The Salvation Army in Jacksonville operates a 72-bed shelter for single women and families, as well as an 80-bed shelter for single men transitioning out of homelessness.
Shelter residents receive three hot meals every day.
The organization also provides a hot dinner for the homeless and working poor nightly at 900 W. Adams St. and distributes groceries though its food pantry to 250 income-eligible households per week.
Donations made at bit.ly/SalArmyMatch will be matched up to $20,000.
9/11 Heroes Run at Jacksonville Beach
The Travis Manion Foundation will host the Jacksonville 9/11 Heroes Run 5K race at 10 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach.
The second annual race will unite the community to remember the sacrifices of the heroes of the 9/11 attacks and the wars fought since.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the foundation, which helps veterans and families of fallen heroes.
The other portion will remain in the community to support Team Red, White & Blue.
The race was inspired by Marine Corps 1st Lt. Travis Manion, who was killed by a sniper in Iraq in April 2007 as he protected his battalion.
The 9/11 Heroes Run national race series will be held in more than 50 locations in the U.S. and the world.
Last year, more than 30,000 people participated. The foundation invested more than $151,000 back into communities to support military, veterans, first responders and their families.
National sponsors include Comcast NBC Universal, CBS Radio and J. Walter Thompson Worldwide.
To register for the race, visit 911heroesrun.org.
September is Hunger Action Month
Feeding Northeast Florida, along with the Feeding America nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, will mobilize in all 50 states in September in an effort to bring an end to hunger.
Hunger Action Month is intended to inspire people to take action and raise awareness that 48 million Americans, including 15 million children, are food insecure, meaning they may not know when they’ll get their next meal.
In Northeast Florida, one-in-six people — 25 percent of whom are children — face hunger. About 280,000 people in the area served by the food bank are food insecure.
On Sept. 8, supporters are asked to donate the average cost of one meal to the food bank.
To learn more about Feeding Northeast Florida and ways to get involved in Hunger Action Month, visit feedingnefl.org or HungerActionMonth.org.
Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis is Dec. 3
The Arthritis Foundation is calling for people to take part in the 2016 Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis.
The annual nationwide event increases awareness of America’s leading cause of disability, while raising funds for research, education and government advocacy to improve the lives of people with arthritis.
Participants tie jingle bells to their shoelaces and wear holiday costumes in support of the foundation’s mission to prevent, control and cure arthritis and its related diseases.
Plan to bring your reindeer antlers and running shoes to Unity Plaza at 4 p.m. Dec. 3 for the Jacksonville run.
To form a team, visit jbr.org/Jacksonville, or call (904) 421-1674.
Realtors set record for school supplies
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty collected a record 1,011 backpacks filled with school supplies for Northeast Florida children during its 17th annual Backpack Challenge.
The backpacks and school supplies were donated to students in Northeast Florida through Dreams Come True, The Bridge of Northeast Florida, Community Connections of Jacksonville, Operation New Hope, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Orange Park Junior High School and Charles E. Bennett Elementary School.
In St. Augustine, the backpacks were donated to Catholic Charities and children attending St. Johns County schools.
Backpacks and school supplies were collected at Berkshire Hathaway offices throughout Northeast Florida.
The backpacks were purchased for students in kindergarten-12th grade, and filled with school supplies such, as pens, pencils, paper and notebooks.
Celebrate Labor Day by giving blood
This Labor Day Holiday Weekend make a difference in the lives of patients and their families by giving blood Sept. 2-6 at any OneBlood Donor Center and receive a limited edition “All American Donor” T-shirt.
Also, blood donors who give from Friday through Aug. 31 will be entered into a drawing for a family four-pack of tickets to the U.S. Men’s National Team versus Trinidad and Tobago soccer match Sept. 6 at EverBank Field.
All donors receive a wellness check of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and a cholesterol screening.
Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds may donate blood. Photo ID is required.
To make an appointment to donate or learn more about the importance of blood donation, visit oneblood.org.
Groups can raise money at The Human Race
HandsOn Jacksonville hosts The Human Race each year to help nonprofits, schools, churches and sports teams raise money.
Now in its ninth year, the race begins at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 1 at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery.
It is a free health-and-fitness opportunity to engage all ages to walk, run or roll for their favorite cause.
Organizations sign up and mobilize their volunteers, family, friends and board members to participate by running or walking.
Each participant receives free admission to Oktoberfest, one free beer and a tour of the brewery when the race concludes and transforms into a family-friendly outdoor festival.
All area nonprofits are encouraged to participate. For details, visit bit.ly/2agNi9q.