JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 More than 600 families lined up Monday to get the holiday essentials courtesy of Feeding Northeast Florida and the Jaguars.<\/p>\n
Locals were greeted by Jaguars players, food bank representatives, and volunteers at the annual food distribution event.<\/p>\n
Each family received a 12- to 15-pound turkey in a black bag and then other items like corn, squash and eggplant.<\/p>\n
Each family received a 12- to 15-pound turkey in a black bag and then other items like corn, squash and eggplant. (WJXT)<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew there would be a lot of families in need, but I never thought it would be 600,\u201d former Jaguars quarterback David Garrard said. \u201cI never thought the traffic would be snaking the parking lot, and it just shows you there\u2019s a lot of people who aren\u2019t able to meet their needs this time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n
The drive-thru food distribution started at 2 p.m. in Lot Z at EverBank Stadium. <\/p>\n
Turkey Time with the Jags. (Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n
According to the organizers, the families receiving turkeys were pre-selected for the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike me, you\u2019re just behind, and once you fall behind, you can\u2019t catch up,\u201d Debra Huffman said. \u201cThat\u2019s the sad part, but thankfully with the grace of God and prayer, he\u2019ll bring us all through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Garrard, who led the Jags to the playoffs in 2007, says today the priority is the people.<\/p>\n
More than 600 families lined up Monday to get the holiday essentials courtesy of Feeding Northeast Florida and the Jaguars. (WJXT)<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you get around the holidays, you want to make sure you\u2019re out here, making sure people aren\u2019t hungry this time of year,\u201d Garrard said. \u201cIt\u2019s supposed to be a happy time, a time to be with family, a time for reflection, just to make sure everybody is getting their needs met.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Feeding Northeast Florida said the agency has seen an increase in need, particularly during and after the government shutdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur agency has been reporting anywhere from 30 to 100-plus increase from last year,\u201d said Susan King with Feeding Northeast Florida. \u201cA lot of that was government shutdown, fear and uncertainty over the pause in SNAP benefits, but you know families that don\u2019t have paychecks can\u2019t bounce back as quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
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