Founded in 1985 by representatives of local churches who received many personal appeals for emergency financial assistance, The Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, or BEAM, was created to provide help in a coordinated way and to prevent duplication of services. Today the community support for BEAM has extended well beyond the faith community to include individuals, businesses, local organizations, and local foundations.
BEAM is a community-based organization serving low income residents living in Jacksonville’s beach communities and serve residents of the following zip codes; 32233, 32266, 32250, 32082, 32224, and 32227. They rely heavily on community support to assist our neighbors in times of need. To prevent homelessness, BEAM provides emergency assistance to cover overdue rent and utility payments. To help families struggling with food insecurity, they operate two client-choice food pantries; one in Jacksonville Beach and one in Mayport. Their 6,500 SF “Grace Garden” supports their pantry operation by supplying several tons of fresh organic produce to those pantries each year.
In addition, BEAM offers nutrition education, assistance with applications for SNAP benefits and Medicaid and case management for single mothers working to break the cycle of poverty. Their seasonal programs include Back To School with BEAM and other services such as Thanksgiving food. They also collaborate with many other service providers to ensure that clients receive coordinated guidance toward self-reliance.
If you are in need of assistance, want to learn more, or are looking to get involved, visit their website: jaxbeam.org.