Christmas Bells are Ringing!

The Fernandina Beach News Leader interviews Dawn Grant on her nearly twentieth consecutive year of volunteering.

Joy to the Children is a nonprofit organization that has reached out across Nassau County Florida and brought Christmas to economically disadvantaged children.
FBNL: How long have you been volunteering with Joy to the Children?

Dawn Grant: Since it"s origination. myself and several others co-founded JOY 19 years ago in 1995.

FBNL: Why did you decide to become involved with Joy to the Children?

Dawn Grant: I was a Children"s Case Manager at Nassau County Mental Health Center (now Starting Point) when Mike Smith came to us looking to identify children which could use support. Mike Smith and several of his friends, who called themselves "The Orphans" because they were empty-nesters, widowed, or divorced, would celebrate the holidays together. In 1995 they decided that rather than spending money on each other at Christmas time, they would pool together their resources and help some children in need. I immediately joined the cause and was the person who identify the children who would be our guests at the party. We met regularly at our homes and started the adventure of becoming a non-profit 501c3. We wanted to offer a party specifically on Christmas Day to children who would wake up Christmas morning to a "normal" day, a day that would be like all the others due to their economic disadvantage. Local restaurants donated food for the party, and the children got to see Santa who brought them gifts of clothes and toys.
Christmas Bells are Ringing!