{"id":132,"date":"2022-09-12T02:11:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T02:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/?page_id=132"},"modified":"2023-06-03T00:02:02","modified_gmt":"2023-06-03T00:02:02","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"132\" class=\"elementor elementor-132\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-exad-particle-enable=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3dd800c elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle exad-parallax-effect-no exad-background-color-change-no exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"3dd800c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;slideshow&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_gallery&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:304,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/joytothechildren.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/OurStory-4.jpg&quot;}],&quot;background_slideshow_loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_duration&quot;:5000,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_transition_duration&quot;:500}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ff97ea6 exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"ff97ea6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3004d59 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-exad-breadcrumbs\" data-id=\"3004d59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"exad-breadcrumbs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<div class=\"exad-breadcrumb-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"exad-breadcrumb-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-exad-particle-enable=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-691823c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default exad-parallax-effect-no exad-background-color-change-no exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"691823c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-03e2d99 exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"03e2d99\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0e271e exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f0e271e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 07-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-exad-particle-enable=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e29122d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default exad-parallax-effect-no exad-background-color-change-no exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"e29122d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d8bb50c exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"d8bb50c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9f3917 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d9f3917\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 07-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Journey of Joy: Our Inspiring Story<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-exad-particle-enable=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8f9bfc6 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle exad-parallax-effect-no exad-background-color-change-no exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"8f9bfc6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1039fae exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"1039fae\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc95b2f exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc95b2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 07-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>In 1995 Mike Smith and several of his friends, who called themselves \u201cThe Orphans\u201d (because they were empty-nesters, widowed, or divorced), decided that rather than spending money on each other at Christmas time, they would pool together their resources and help some children in need. At the time I was working as a Children\u2019s Case Manager with Nassau County Mental Health (now known as Starting Point), and The Orphans came to us in search of children they could help. We were excited to accommodate them with about 30 families in need.<\/p><p>Ever since 1995 we have helped approximately 60 to 80 families each year\u2026 that\u2019s about 160 to 190 children every year. We look for families that will \u201clikely not have Christmas otherwise,\u201d and invite them to our Christmas Day celebration. Local restaurants donate food for the party, and the children\u00a0visit with\u00a0Santa and Mrs. Claus who bring them gifts and necessities.<\/p><p>What a great time the families have! They are entertained by live music, caroling, face painting, crafts, pirate invasion, and clowns. The children receive clothing, a backpack, school supplies, toiletries, books, a blanket, sheets, a pillow, and toys\u2026 all purchased specifically for each child based on their age, gender, size, interests, and hobbies. Bibles are also available to the families if they choose to have one.<\/p><p>In all reality\u2026 JOY is a wonderful experience for both the families AND for our volunteers.\u00a0Several hundred volunteers assist JOY in every step of the production. Volunteers coordinate logistics, shop, wrap presents, and decorate for the\u00a0party. About 80 volunteers come on Christmas Day to help at the party; some work in the kitchen, and some, our Family Angels, provide one-on-one service to assigned families for the day.<\/p><p>We are a non-profit organization, with no paid staff members.\u00a0 We have minimal overhead utilizing most of the donations to go straight to serving our guests.<\/p><p>We serve only children and their families from Nassau County. The families are identified and referred to us via agencies which monitor and assist the homeless of Nassau County. We always make an effort to cross reference our guest list with other holiday assistance programs to ensure that those we serve are not being served elsewhere.<\/p><p>Please consider joining our efforts.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>InJoy,<\/p><p>Dawn Grant<\/p><p>President &amp; Co-Founder<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f7db723 exad-glass-effect-no exad-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"f7db723\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d32bc09 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d32bc09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 07-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/430491_417098615006486_529769126_n.jpeg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape wp-image-2070\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5198d68 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5198d68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/341420_446259138757100_173422378_o-e1685749495726.jpeg?resize=728%2C650&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape wp-image-2071\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13ebb5e exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"13ebb5e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/216549_179098888806461_5225876_n.jpeg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape wp-image-2069\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Journey of Joy: Our Inspiring Story In 1995 Mike Smith and several of his friends, who called themselves \u201cThe Orphans\u201d (because they were empty-nesters, widowed, or divorced), decided that rather than spending money on each other at Christmas time, they would pool together their resources and help some children in need. At the time I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/author\/webadmin_jq8bqoi1\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":null,"rttpg_excerpt":"Journey of Joy: Our Inspiring Story In 1995 Mike Smith and several of his friends, who called themselves \u201cThe Orphans\u201d (because they were empty-nesters, widowed, or divorced), decided that rather than spending money on each other at Christmas time, they would pool together their resources and help some children in need. At the time I&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/132"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2102,"href":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/132\/revisions\/2102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joytothechildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}