JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Since 1985, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, BEAM, has been serving members of the Beaches community who find themselves suddenly in crisis and unable to pay their rent, utility bill or feed their family.
Some clients have lost their jobs or experienced a financial change that prevents them from being able to afford their basic needs. BEAM offers rent assistance and helps pay their utility bill.
It also has two food pantries, one in Jacksonville Beach, the other in Mayport, where BEAM clients can shop for free food, including vegetables, lettuce and fruit grown in its Grace Garden.
Click here to see our stories from last year, showcasing BEAM’s garden and advice from its garden manager, showing us the secrets to growing your own vegetables at home.
BEAM also offers its donors an opportunity to sponsor one of its 60 garden boxes or one of its nine lettuce towers each year where they can watch their donation literally grow into food provided in its pantries.
BEAM volunteers have also partnered with Coastal Sciences Middle School in Mayport to create a large garden where students learn how to grow their own vegetables. The school is located in a food desert. The project was featured earlier this year on News4JAX.
Senior citizens
In addition to providing meals to home-bound senior citizens, BEAM volunteers forge connections with vulnerable senior citizens and help them complete home repairs for free or low-cost so they can safely stay in their homes.
Single Mothers Project
BEAM has a program that helps single mothers receive workforce training so they can build a career.
The intensive 2-year program provides financial assistance, work training, mentorship and financial classes to single mothers.
Click here to read more about a local mother’s journey through the program.
Thrift stores
BEAM has three thrift stores in Jacksonville Beach, where it welcomes gently used clothing and furniture, which is sold to support its mission.
It asks for any Beaches residents who are moving or spring cleaning to consider its thrift stores for your donations.
These items can be picked up by BEAM’s staff.
The money generated by the sale of these items is tremendous for BEAM’s goal, raising roughly 35% of its yearly revenue.
How you can help
The need within the beaches communities is great considering BEAM spent nearly $900,000 in 2022 to cover rent and utilities for its clients and provides more than 925,000 meals each year to anyone facing hunger.
BEAM always needs volunteers and donations as it serves individuals and families who live or work in Mayport, Atlantic, Neptune or Jacksonville beaches and a handful of communities along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Click here for more information about its mission and to learn how you can help.
