With the closure USO Mayport Center, the Commanding Officer of Naval Station Mayport recognized a significant need for food assistance for military families still existed.  He reached out to the City of Jacksonville's (COJ) Military Affairs and Veteran's Department (MAVD) to see what could be done to help service members regain support in their fight against food insecurity.
COJ/MAVD pulled together a team consisting of Catholic Charities, BEAM, and Humana Military under Feeding Northeast Florida to start Food Farmacy events in the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) parking lot on Mayport Road.
Starting in early 2024, these events are held every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.  MOAA Foundation supported Historic Mayport Chapter with a $5,000 grant in 2024, and Vystar supported Mayport Navy League with a $12,000 grant in 2024 for Food Farmacy.
Using grant funds and donations, these two organizations coordinate to provide $25 commissary gift cards to young enlisted families at each Food Farmacy event to help buy supplies needed to prepare and serve the food that is provided by the Feeding Northeast Florida team.
Fleet Landing residents and MOAA Chapter member also donate generously to Food Farmacy through Historic Mayport Chapter and Mayport Navy League.
SUPPORT PLAN: In coordination with Naval Station Mayport and COJ/MAVD, MOAA and Navy League will provide at least twenty $25 Commissary gift cards ($500) at each event during 2024 and early 2025.  The team doubled up during back to school (August 2024), and will double up during the holidays (November-December 2024), and also during back to school in January 2025.  Even when we are able to double up to 40 cards, we run out of gift cards well before the typical line of cars with 150 families are served.  We will continue to look for grant funds from businesses and organizations, and we appreciate all the donations from Fleet Landing residents and Chapter members.
DONATIONS: Cash, check, or $25 commissary cards (marked to Food Farmacy donation) can be sent to Pat Kluever at 116 Fleet Landing Blvd, Atlantic Beach, Fl 32233
VOLUNTEERS: To sort and hand out food, sign up on line at these events "feedingnefl.org" - scroll down and select "volunteer" - next page select "Volunteer Now" - next page, on left select "Dashboard" - next page select "Mobile Food Distribution for Mayport Military Families" - select a shift to volunteer.

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On 24 June 2024, the Mayport Navy League Council was awarded a $20,000 grant from Vystar Foundation to support our Mayport Sailors with either quarterly dinners or bimonthly commissary food gift cards at the Food Farmacy.
The awardees were from organizations throughout Florida.  We are very honored to have been selected.
As we support this all-volunteer effort with food for Sailors, feel proud of the part you will play in this upcoming year to help our Sailors and their families, and support our Naval Station Mayport.
VyStar Foundation distributed $201,551 among 12 nonprofits in its third grant cycle focused on organizations that support military and veterans service programs.  Specific funding priority was given to programs that address health and basic needs, mental health services and workforce development.

The Navy's Retiree newsletter, previously known as Shift Colors, will now be called Sailor for Life.  This name change reflects an expanded commitment to provide meaningful content that supports Sailors' post-service life.  Whether it's information on benefits, updates on Navy initiatives, or resources for family support, we are here to offer you valuable insights and assistance.

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Jacksonville Beaches

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Wall, Downtown

Mayport Navy League volunteers joined hundreds of other Navy families and community to welcome home the USS Carney (DDG-64) on 19 May 2024.  The ship was returning from a long deployment which included combat operations in the Red Sea.  Caney arrived on a sunny day to be greeted not only her families, there was even a wading pool for kids.  Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and the Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro were present to award the ship and its crew the Navy Unit Commendation.
"I am incredibly proud of my team for their performance throughout this deployment," said CDR Jeremy Robertson, Carney's Commanding Officer.  "No matter the challenge, our crew was ready and demonstrated incredible professionalism, proficiency, and flexibility.  Our missions required focus and grit, and the crew leaned on each other and took care of each other, as we will continue to do."

Each $17 sponsorship supports WAA's yearlong program and places a live, balsam Veteran's wreath on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all Veterans laid to rest on Saturday, December 14, 2024, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.
"Every sponsorship is a meaningful gift from a grateful American who knows what it means to serve and sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy," said Karen Worcester, Executive Director of Wreaths Across America.  "We are so grateful to the good people of this great nation for participating in our mission to Remember, Honor, Teach."

On the evening of Thursday, 11 April 2024, proud parents and community supporters gathered at the Jacksonville Terry Parker High School auditorium to join the Terry Parker High School NJROTC cadets and staff for their annual awards ceremony.  The ceremony is divided into two parts - the first part is the recognition of outstanding NJROTC cadets by various civic organizations followed by recognition of various cadets for their outstanding achievements within the NJROTC unit and its activities.

Cadet/LCDR Smith and her family record the proud moment in the school's courtyard dedicated to students who have lost their lives.

Your Mayport Navy League annually presents the Navy League Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal to an outstanding cadet selected by the NJROTC unit's Senior Naval Instructor.  The Mayport Navy League also presents a $500.00 Scholarship check to a cadet selected by the Senior Naval Instructor.  This year the selectee for both the Theodore Roosevelt Youth medal and the $500 Scholarship check was Cadet/LCDR Ivyanna Smith - pictured below with Mayport Navy League Board Member, George Huchting, making the presentations.  Cadet/LCDR Smith is planning on going on to college to study Criminal Justice.

Huchting comments that each year he has attended this awards ceremony, he is truly impressed by the conduct, bearing and quality of the cadets - and their sense of caring and pride in their accomplishments as well as the accomplishments of their fellow cadets!

It is interesting to note that of the about 10 different organizations that present some sort of award - your Mayport Navy League Council is the only one which provides a Scholarship check each year.  We truly do make a difference in peoples lives thanks to the support of our Mayport Navy Leaguers and our community partners!

WELCOME!

The Navy League of the United States was founded in 1902 with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt.  It is unique among military-oriented associations in that it is a civilian organization dedicated to the education of our citizens, including our elected officials, and the support of the men and women of the sea services and their families.

The objective and purpose of the Navy League is twofold: educational and motivational.  We must acquire and display before the citizens of our country information regarding the condition of our naval and maritime forces.  We must awaken interest and support in all matters which aid our maritime capabilities.

"It seems to me that all good Americans interested in the growth of their country and sensitive to its honor, should give hearty support to the policies which the Navy League is founded to further.  For the building and maintaining in proper shape of the American Navy, we must rely on nothing but the broad and farsighted patriotism of our people as a whole."  Teddy Roosevelt

To this end, the Navy League works closely with the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and US-flag Merchant Marine through a network of over 240 councils in the U.S. and around the world.  The Navy League has over 35 thousand active members.

The Navy League supports America's young people through its youth programs, including sponsorship of the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps and the Navy League Scholarship Program.  Individual councils are also involved in promoting youth-oriented activities in their communities such as NJROTC, MCJROTC, and ROTC units along with other recognized youth programs.  Local councils and national headquarters provide over $200,000 in scholarships and awards every year.