Jacksonville woman collects donations to bring Christmas morning cheer to homeless

This holiday season, many people will wake up to gifts under their Christmas tree, but for some local families, opening presents is something they haven't done in years.

Cynthia Saben is hoping to change that.

“I grew up downtown and you see people, they do without,” Saben said. She couldn’t help but wonder where the next meal is coming from for homeless people trying to stay warm in downtown Jacksonville.

“I said, I’ve got to do something,” Saben said.

On Christmas morning, she knows exactly what’s going to be on their menu: “Sausage gravy... we’ll put this over biscuits and we’ll serve some eggs and fruit along with it.”

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For weeks, Saben has been collecting donations she plans to distribute to the homeless in Main Street Park.

People around the community have donated toys, hygiene items, clothes, and even dog food. “Anybody of the less fortunate, they come up and they have dogs, we’ve got them taken care of,” Saben said.

She said the biggest needs include socks, T-shirts and toiletries.

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“As we wake up in our warm beds and, you know, to our breakfast or to the kids going to the Christmas tree, and then you’ve got some just wishing for that... I want to give them that, a little bit, that morning,” Saben said.

Any volunteers who want to help serve breakfast and distribute gifts can show up at Main Street Park at 7 a.m. Christmas Day.

Breakfast will be served at 8 a.m.

There are four locations where you can drop off donations:
-    Pet Supermarket, 609 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach
-    Earth Pets, 11740 San Jose Blvd
-    Green Dog Spa, 11048 Baymeadows Rd #7
-    Steel Pony, 5312 Jammes Rd

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