Call Me!
904-463-2877
Email Me!
Judy@JudyHicks.com
RE/MAX Specialists
12646 San Jose Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32223
904-463-2877
Judy@JudyHicks.com
12646 San Jose Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32223
Over 30 years ago I started WomenadeJax, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing women together to support the kids and youth at Daniel. Daniel is Florida’s oldest childcare agency and it is widely known for its Residential Treatment Center, which provides children who have serious emotional and behavioral problems with a supportive atmosphere and the professional attention they need to get back on track.
At their Independent Living Village (ILV) – Daniel works with homeless youth, aged 16-21, connecting them with safe places to stay and supporting them with resources designed to help them transition from instability to self-sufficiency. During those 30+ years, I have partnered with the Northeast Builder’s Association and their Sales & Marketing Council, to give every kid at Daniel on campus and at ILV, Christmas presents. As part of the great undertaking, we:
• Give over 75 kids and youth at least two presents each year, and
• Throw Christmas parties complete with treats, a DJ, dancing, and a visit from Santa.
Once again, the Jacksonville Realtor & Builder Community came together with the support of Loan Professionals, Closing Agents, and many others to make sure that every child and youth on the Daniel campus (Belfort Rd) in the Independent Living and Community based services have fun-filled Christmas parties and gifts. Thank you to all who helped.
Here are some photos from previous years. The youth made their wish lists, and you Santa’s helpers did the rest! Santa’s helpers never disappoint. From the bottom of our hearts, THANKS!
If you are participating in the Womenade Daniel Kids Christmas and have questions, we have prepared FAQs to help you. If you have a question that we haven’t answered, call Judy at 904-463-2877.
General Questions
Christmas for the kids at Daniel is one of my favorite things. For over 30 years, I have partnered with the Sales and Marketing Council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association and the Jacksonville Community to bring Christmas to the kids at Daniel.
As soon as you get the “wish list tag”, take a picture of it! Why? The tags may just be a list of gifts to you, but to us, the tags tell so much more! All the wish lists are color-coded by programs and have other vital information in the code. So, if you contact me because you’ve misplaced or lost your wish list, looking at the photo you took, you can tell me the color and coded information, and I’ll be able to quickly give you answers!
The following lists of “do’s” and “don’ts” may seem not very important, but I want you to know that all of these come from Daniel. They have a reason for everything they request, and if you follow the requests, the entire process will go smoothly, and all the kids will get your gifts, and that’s what we want!!
– All gifts must be new items, No used items.
– All shoes purchased MUST be slip-on. Kids cannot have any shoelaces.
– If your gift tag is yellow, orange, or green – the gift is for a campus youth, and the shoes MUST be slip-on only, no shoestrings.
– NO candy or food products of any kind.
THESE “DO’S” AND “DON’TS” ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE REQUESTS BY DANIEL
Gift Questions
All gifts must be new items, NO used items.
– All shoes purchased MUST be slip-on. Kids cannot have any shoelaces.
– All sweatshirts MUST be pullovers. NO hoodies, strings or zippers
– PJs can be elastic waist but NO strings.
– NO candy or food products of any kind.
– Please DO NOT purchase the following: Manicure sets, Liquids that contain any amount of alcohol, R-rated books, and/or R-rated movies.
These requirements are non-negotiable requests by Daniel.
Yes – please purchase BOTH gifts – no substitutions. We don’t want any child to feel disappointed or not receive their two gifts. Please put both gifts in the same bag and staple the wish list to the Christmas gift bag.
Unfortunately, there are some children in the program who have had very difficult lives and are not always in the best places mentally. Strings and ties can be used to harm themselves, and so are restricted at all the Daniel cottages.
Can you imagine being a parent to over 100 children at one time all with different allergies and dietary needs and restrictions? To make sure that everyone stays safe and healthy, the Daniel’s staff has to enforce this restriction.
– All shoes purchased MUST be slip-on. Kids cannot have any shoelaces.
– All sweatshirts MUST be pullovers. NO hoodies, strings, or zippers
– PJs can be elastic waist but NO strings.
– NO candy or food products of any kind.
– Please DO NOT purchase the following: Manicure sets, Liquids that contain any amount of alcohol, R-rated books, and/or R-rated movies
These requirements are non-negotiable requests by daniel.
Do NOT wrap gifts. Put BOTH gifts in the same Christmas gift bag with tissue and staple the wish list to the outside of the Christmas bag. If you can get a gift receipt, please do and attach the gift receipt to the wish list and staple it to the bag. If there is no wish list stapled on the outside of a gift bag with both gifts – we won’t know which child is to get that gift, and with the number of kids and gifts, we don’t want anyone to not receive their gifts! Again, gifts cannot be wrapped – if you wrap them, we must unwrap the gift and put them in a gift bag.
If you have purchased a large gift, like a “kitchen in a box,” cookware, bedding, etc., please do not wrap it. Instead, put the gift in a reinforced microfiber bag.
Drop-Off Questions
All gifts are due no later than noon on the date stated on the “wish list tag”.
Gifts can be dropped off at the locations listed on the “wish list tag” – If you have any questions, call Judy Hicks at 904-463-2877.
Absolutely not. The staff at Daniel do not have the capacity or resources to take this project on. We give them finished gifts. This is a labor of love by the volunteers from Womenade. Please help us by delivering your gifts on time to one of the locations listed on the “wish list tag”.
30 years ago, Judy found a cause near to her heart: helping children. She connected with daniel. With her significant involvement with the Northeast Florida Builders Association and their Sales and Marketing Council, Judy created something incredible: a way for people in her industry who wanted to help others to do so and a way for kids in need to be helped.
Judy created Womenade events where women gather, share a meal, and often meet a child from daniel. With these events, Judy stepped in at daniel to create programs the children need, such as a program where volunteers from Womenade read to small children and another program where volunteers help those preparing to find jobs and live on their own for the first time, with how to dress for a job interview and make sure they have necessities such as bedding, dishes, and clothes.
Judy quickly saw a need for Christmas with the children. Every year, Judy organizes a Christmas party for the kids at daniel, complete with gifts. This tradition has grown and is well-known to the community. With the children already in a stressful life situation, Judy wants all the children at daniel to have the best Christmas possible and works for months before to orchestrate the most incredible act – giving children Christmas, complete with a party and gifts.
Judy interacts with the children throughout the year, and they know her. She genuinely cares about them and leads Womenade to do things many non-profits don’t do. Judy works tirelessly with daniel and for the children to help them through this time in their lives.
Providing you with a comprehensive high-quality listing service is my top priority. So when you decide to sell your home, please reach out to me!
