JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Summer break is nearly over for Duval County students, and as we get closer to the start of a new school year, a local barbershop and nonprofit organization are again planning to give back.
The annual back-to-school party organized by Jewels of the Future outside Cutz, Linez, and Trimz barbershop gives away school supplies to children living in one of the most underserved ZIP codes in Florida: 32209.
According to ZIP code income data, the median income in the 32209 area is around $28,000 -- far less than the median income in other Jacksonville ZIP codes.
To aid this underserved area, Jewels of the Future CEO Renita Turner has organized the back-to-school party outside the barbershop she owns every year since 2016.
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The children attending the annual party receive new backpacks and school supplies. But this year, traditional backpacks are not the most important back-to-school item.
School uniforms are this year’s biggest sought-after back-to-school necessity.
“Kids are going to clear backpacks or mesh backpacks, or some schools aren’t even allowing students to bring backpacks,” Turner said. “We just figured the bigger need was uniforms because uniforms can be expensive, especially if you have more than one child.”
Turner said many hard-working parents in this community don’t make enough money to afford multiple school uniforms for their children on top of paying for rent, food and utilities.
“These things affect not just the children, but the parents as well. They have to work. They have to feed their children and with the cost of living, it’s making it harder,” Turner said. “So, we especially want to focus on these kids and make things a little easier for their families.”
Unfortunately, all Turner has been able to collect through donations so far are a handful of navy blue shirts and khaki shorts. The overall goal is to supply uniforms to 150 students with three to five uniforms per child.
Turner said there are several ways the public can help secure uniforms for children in need.
One way is to purchase brand-new uniforms and then drop off those uniforms at the barbershop so they can be distributed during the back-to-school party.
Many of the uniform shirts, shorts, and pants cost around $5 each, so five bottoms and five tops for one child can total $50.
Another option is donating used uniforms that are in good shape.
“We want to make sure they have a neat uniform they can fit that looks good and presentable so they can focus on the more important things like learning,” Turner said.
Dolphie Potter, a grandmother we ran into who was back-to-school shopping for her grandchild, said she sympathizes with students who have to rely on hand-me-down clothing because those are the same children who get bullied.
“Children don’t want to suffer through bullying, but it still happens. Every school has a no-bullying policy, but it still happens,” Potter said. “Because of the way their clothes look. They’re too long, too baggy, you don’t have a belt and have to keep pulling up your pants, or your shirt is too long. It looks like a dress. I’ve heard it all.”
And that is what Turner is trying to help students avoid as they head back to class to start a new school year.
Donated uniforms can be dropped off at Cutz, Linez, and Trimz Barbershop at 6050 Moncrief Road.
They are also accepting monetary donations through their GoFundMe account to purchase more uniforms and school supplies.
This year’s back-to-school party is scheduled for 12-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, just eight days before children head back to school in Duval County.