When the community calls, Florida’s technology leader is there to lend a hand especially when it comes to our nation’s heroes. Comcast recently joined forces with Blue Star Families in Jacksonville to bring Nourish the Service to life, an event to help support the brave men and women who served our country. The event helped offset the impact of inflation and the rising cost of living for service members and their families.
In total, more than 300 military-affiliated families registered and attended the essential needs distribution held at the New Berlin Elementary School. A $25,000 investment from Comcast Military made the event possible. The families received fresh vegetables, frozen meat, assorted snack boxes, t-shirts, winter clothing and toiletries. The kids even walked with some toys.
Wendy Layton is the director for the local Blue Star Families Chapter. She thanked Comcast, one of Florida’s largest Internet service providers, for the support and for their help in ensuring the event’s success.
“This event was everything. We have been working to put something like this together for our families in this area for a long time. Seeing the positive response from the families was fantastic. We proved the need, and I hope this can continue moving forward,” said Layton.
Nourish the Service was a true community effort. Local partners and Comcast Team UP volunteers rallied together to make the day possible. Team UP is Comcast’s national employee volunteer program.
Curlita Hall is a Comcast RTE Professional and volunteered for the distribution. Hall described the event as personal and dear to her heart since almost all her male relatives have served in the United States military.
“The energy is the room was electrifying. Seeing the smiles on the adults and the children’s faces light up was priceless,” said Hall. “There is no gesture too small.”
Blue Star Families is a 275,000-member organization with a worldwide network of chapters and communities, reaching more than 1.5 million military family members every single year. Since its inception in 2009, Blue Star Families has developed innovative programs that seek to solve specific challenges for military families, such as economic insecurity, family strength and critical peer support for caregivers.
event in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo Credit: Rich Barrett Media Productions)
Leigh, a military spouse who came to Nourish the Service expressed her gratitude to the organizers for providing such a great event.
“It was overwhelmingly wonderful,” she said.
Comcast’s presence in Jacksonville goes way back. In fact, since 2010 Comcast has made more than $5 million in cash and in-kind contributions to Duval County non-profits, such as Blue Star Families. For more on how Comcast actively invests in and supports the military community, visit here. Xfinity offers exclusive benefits for those who serve, including discounts on mobile plans, flexible line fees, virtual prepaid cards and Xfinity Rewards Diamond member status, our highest tier available. Visit here to access them.
