Supporting
St. Johns County
Children in Need
At HUGS St. Johns, we make sure children in our community have what they need, including clothes that fit, meals to count on, and the dignity every child deserves.
Making a Difference Right Here at Home
No child should have to worry about having shoes that fit, a warm jacket in winter, or food on the table.
Thanks to the generosity of our St. Johns County community, HUGS is meeting these basic needs for thousands of local children — so they can focus on learning, growing, and simply being children.
600+
Clothing bags each year because every child deserves to feel confident at school.
20
School-based pantries stocked every month so children never wonder where their next meal is coming from
1,000
Students fed grab-and-go meals that turn hunger into focus and energy
1,400
Holiday meal bags making sure there are no hungry holidays in St Johns County
100+
Huge-hearted neighbors volunteering and proving every day that our community shows up for its children.
The Need in St Johns County
Our schools rank among the best in Florida, yet hundreds of students face homelessness each year and thousands more live in poverty.
HUGS began in 2008 when local moms saw the effects of poverty in their children's classrooms. What started with sneakers and snacks has grown into a community movement ensuring children have what they need to thrive.
How We Help
Clothing Insecurity
2 in 5 children in the U.S. don't have proper clothing. HUGS provides over 600 children each year with personalized bags filled with clothing, socks, sneakers, toiletries, and school supplies.
Hunger Close to Home
Nearly 1,000 children rely on our 20 school-based food pantries stocked with grab-and-go meals, restocked monthly by volunteers.
No Hungry Holidays
When schools close, hunger grows. Each December, HUGS and Winn-Dixie provide 1,400 local children with meal bags to carry them through the long holiday break.
Powered By Volunteers And Donors
From retirees to high school students, hundreds of volunteers pack, deliver, and collect essentials every month to support our youngest neighbors. And none of this would be possible without our generous donors—families, businesses, and foundations who believe every child deserves the basics to grow and thrive.
How to get involved:
Join our Clothing Program team any Tuesday or Thursday morning to pack and prepare clothing bags for local children.
Help restock School-Based Pantries on the first Friday of each month, ensuring nearly 1,000 children have meals they can count on.
Make a donation that puts new shoes on a child's feet, stocks a school pantry, or provides a complete clothing bag.
