By Joe DeSalvo
For 25 years, the Bishop John J. Snyder Community Center has been the heart of San Jose Apartments I and II, enriching the lives of low-income seniors on Jacksonville’s Southside. As the center celebrates this milestone, the San Jose Apartments board has launched its 2025 appeal to sustain the programs and services residents rely on every day.
San Jose Apartments I and II include two HUD-supported buildings with 99 one-bedroom units for seniors. While the apartments receive federal assistance, the Snyder Center does not. The community hub must raise its full annual operating budget, estimated at $17,000, through private donations.
The center is essential for residents, many of whom live alone or face limited mobility. It hosts meals, social events, health screenings, educational programs and religious activities. For many, it is the only gathering place where they can connect with neighbors.
“It’s such an integral part of the residents’ life,” said Alma Ballard, executive director of Family Housing Management Company, which oversees four HUD-assisted senior facilities for the Diocese of St. Augustine. “The center brings both buildings together as one unit. Without community support, I wouldn’t know where we would be or how we would fund the building.”
To keep the center strong, the board is continuing two long-term fundraising efforts: the Snyder Angels and the Tree of Life campaigns.
Snyder Angels
Founded in 2015, the Snyder Angel program recognizes individuals, organizations and companies that give $240 or more each year. These gifts form the core of the center’s operating budget. Many donors renew annually, providing consistent support that allows the center to plan programs and maintain the facility. The campaign honors Bishop John J. Snyder, whose advocacy for seniors and the vulnerable guided its creation.
Tree of Life
The Tree of Life appeal began in 2002 when St. Vincent’s Medical Center donated a handcrafted mahogany Tree of Life plaque. Today the plaque hangs inside the Snyder Center. Donors may sponsor an engraved leaf or rock in memory or honor of loved ones, creating a lasting tribute while supporting the seniors who rely on the center. Engravings have celebrated residents, board members, family members and parishioners from nearby San Jose Catholic Church.
An Invitation to Support
The board hopes the center’s 25th anniversary will inspire new participation. Many residents have lived at San Jose Apartments for decades, and the center remains their main source of community, wellness and social connection.
If you are able to support seniors this Christmas season, please consider becoming a Snyder Angel or sponsoring the Tree of Life. To donate or learn more, contact Alma Ballard at aballard@ccbjax.org or (904) 632-1255.
The Snyder Center continues to serve because of donors who believe every senior deserves dignity, community and joy all year long.
