JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Eight organizations now have extra money to serve active duty military and veterans in Jacksonville.
Mayor Lenny Curry joined the Jaguars Foundation Monday at City Hall as the foundation awarded more than $58,000 in grant money.
The group Northeast Florida Women Veterans got one of the grants. Founder Deloris Quaranta said she saw a need seven years ago and filled it.
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“There was no one in the city that was providing for women veterans and no one wanted to do it because of funding,” she said. "Women veterans do have unique needs, so I had to take a leap of faith and do it myself."
She tells Action News Jax the center now serves up to 500 female veterans each year, from emergency housing and support to life skill training and jobs.
“The main thing is about that one woman vet who walks in the door and wants to commit suicide and we can turn her around and help her be successful,” she said.
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She said the grant money will go toward their new initiative, a six-week wellness course.
The other groups that got grants were 5 Star Veterans Center, Florida National Guard Foundation, K9s for Warriors, Operation New Uniform, Jax True Blue, United Way of Northeast Florida's Mission United and Yoga for Change.
Curry also highlighted several events taking place during the Celebration of Valor over the next month.
You can see a full list of the city's website.
Cox Media Group
