Gardens tradition continues in conjunction with Blessings in a Backpack

By Anthony Richards, The Ponte Vedra Recorder

Partnerships for good are always a fabulous thing, and that was the case when Ponte Vedra Gardens teamed up with the Tesori Family Foundation and Blessings in a Backpack to make sure local students had the proper school supplies needed to succeed in the school year.

The back-to-school event was hosted by Ponte Vedra Gardens, as residents at the memory care facility did their part in helping fill the backpacks with school supplies.

“We love these two organizations, and what a joy it is to bring them together for such a great cause,” Ponte Vedra Gardens Program Director Jennifer McCormick said.

The event was nothing new, as it has now been a tradition that has been taking place at the Ponte Vedra Gardens for the past couple of years.

However, according to Blessings in a Backpack volunteer Sharon Kehoe, it is a tradition that never gets old.

Kehoe is a regular volunteer with Blessings in a backpack and she keeps coming back to help because she loves the way the organization is able to directly be felt within the community she calls home.

“Your heart is definitely filled just by being there and being a part of it,” Kehoe said.

The event made an impactful difference within the local community as the backpacks wound up going to students at a couple of different area schools.

“You can’t do much in school without the tools you need to succeed,” Kehoe said.

One of the most unique aspects of the event is the generational gap that is closed during it.

It is special because it brings together the older generation and the younger generation, which is something not many events are able to capture.

There are many benefits from the event, besides just the children that were impacted when they received the bags, but also the positive nature that being involved in the event has on the residents of Ponte Vedra Gardens that take part.

“No matter how they’re feeling or the amount of memory loss they have, they still always realize when they are doing something that will help children,” Kehoe said.