Junior Auxiliary of Taney County’s Current Projects
The primary function of JATC is to provide service to the community focused on the needs of children and families. Using information from the community, JATC members assess local needs and develop service projects designed to match members’ interests and skills with identified needs.
“cELEBRATE READING”
The new CELEBRATE READING Project’s Primary Goal is to get a variety of books into the hands of young children and to get parents more involved in their child’s reading adventure. Junior Auxiliary members will distribute collections of books for children to read at different locations in Taney County. One of our goals is to continue Read Alouds at White River Apartments, Sycamore Springs, Plato’s Cave, and the Penleigh.
JATC provided gifts to 96 children, ages 3 months to 5 years. All children attend OACAC’s Head Start, Early Head Start, or Home-Based programs. It was a Merry Christmas, 2024 when each child received a gift bag containing a hooded coat, an outfit, a pair of gloves, a book, and a toy. Sponsors for Christmas Assistance for 2024 were Ozark Family Vision Centre who held a toy drive for us, and a $1000 donation from a local business. We’re working on Christmas Assistance for 2025 and have received a grant from Neighbors and Friends of Table Rock Lake.
Josie Betram and her mom Emily were all smiles when they received their special Christmas gift bag.
ELEVATE KIDS
This project is in partnership with Branson Schools. The school district provides one teacher for every 10 kids. The After School program meets on Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 and provides a snack and three 30 minute rotations—game room, sensory room, and art. The program focuses on homework completion, group play, sensory needs, art, using kind words and keeping hands and feet to self. Our JA volunteers assist a teacher or another volunteer in one of the rooms. Extra hands are always needed.
The Summer Program provides breakfast and lunch for the kids who will rotate six- 30 minute sessions. Rotations will include: Gym, Phonics, Art, Science/Writing, Daily Living/Math, and Sensory Room. This program is held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the summer from 8:45 am- 12:45 pm. JA volunteers will assist teachers and other volunteers with a subject of interest.
HALLOWEEN GRAPE STOMP
JATC provided a “fun” Halloween course where kids could play Pumpkin Mini Golf, at the Grape Stomp Festival in Hollister, MO. Kids also enjoyed having their picture taken inside the truck and pumpkin.
JATC members Robin Osbern, Kristi Gabel, and Debbie Lee were “working” at the booth.
JOAN ANDERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Paddle Party Vendor Santa’s Gift House Ducky Drift Installation as President
Joan Anderson, Life Member of Junior Auxiliary of Taney County, passed away on May 12, 2022 after a brief illness. Joan was passionate about JA and enjoyed being part of a group of women dedicated to helping the children of Taney County. Joan was an active volunteer for JATC and contributed many hours of volunteer work to the organization. Among other things, Joan held the offices of Treasurer, Vice President, and President for the organization Joan held various jobs in financial services, IT, and hospitality. When she left the corporate arena, she became a successful independent fundraising dealer with Butter Braid Products and also worked part-time in the Sales Audit Department at Silver Dollar City. The family asked for donations to be made to Junior Auxiliary of Taney County, and JATC has chosen to dedicate that money to a $500 Joan Anderson Memorial Scholarship which is being matched by the family of Joan Anderson for a total of $1000. The 2024-2025 school year will be the second year for this scholarship, and it will be dedicated to students who plan on pursuing a career in Business, IT, or Accounting.
This year’s recipient is Zoe Odom, a graduate of Branson High School. Zoe will be attending College of the Ozarks and majoring in Business Management.
SCHOLARCARE
This project is designed to provide support and encouragement to a student who may be experiencing his/her first time away from home. Selection of a student is based on the applicants' essays demonstrating their need for continuing support from JATC and depending on the availability of funding. In addition to a $1,000 scholarship, renewable annually based on satisfactory college achievement, JATC members send notes, small gifts, and emails throughout the school year. We currently have four (4) ScholarCare recipients: Gemma Reding, Forsyth (Year 3), Kierra Greco, Branson (Year 2), and Rajan Raghani, Branson (Year 2) have been approved to renew their awards for the 2025-2026 school year. Sylvie Barbour (Branson) (Year 1) was selected as our newest ScholarCare recipient. Congratulations to Kylie Calhoun who graduated from college on May 2nd this year. In June she will go to Cincinnati, Ohio where she has a job as a manufacturing engineer for GE Aerospace. She’ll be working on jet engines and is super excited about this new phase in her life.
SANTA’S GIFT HOUSE
Top Row: Natasha and Heidi Christian with Mrs. Claus and Santa; October and Alexander Lapach; Declan Fitzpatrick; Barbie (Jaylene Martin) with Abbie Odom;
Second Row: Jade and Ruby Machen with Mrs. Claus and Santa; Mrs. Claus and Santa listening to Ozzie Costello’s request for rainbow socks; Olivia Vancil was excited to get a hug from Mrs. Claus and Santa; Rudolph joined Mrs. Claus and Santa for a photo
Third Row: Rachel Goeke with Shopper Laken Young; Christmsas Tree Sue Kelly with Sebastian and Sawyer Cleer; Amanda Aucoin, Tristan Tate, and Emma Aucoin
The holiday season started early at the fifteenth annual Santa’s Gift House hosted by the Junior Auxiliary of Taney County (JATC). On December 14 and December 18, Santa’s Gift House provided approximately 325 Taney County children with an opportunity to experience the joy of giving gifts during the holidays. They “shopped” with the help of JATC elves and selected up to four items. Children were charged 50 cents per item at the December 14 event, a nominal charge for the huge variety of gifts. The December 18 event was held at Bradleyville Elementary School where there was no charge for the kids to shop.
We want to thank all our sponsors: White River Trust, Lazy Valley Resort, Branson Tri-Lakes News, Binswanger Glass, Jaylene Martin and As You Wish Character Entertainment, Lowe’s, Billy Gail’s Restaurant, and Crazy Critters Crafts!
Merry Christmas to all!
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TANEY COUNTY
This project provides a $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors from one of the four county high schools (Branson, Bradleyville, Forsyth, and Hollister). Scholarships are awarded on the availability of funding and on the basis of demonstrated initiative and commitment to community volunteer activities. Congratulations to the recipients of our 2025-2026 scholarships: Candace Benedicto, Hollister High School; Johnathon Mutarelli, Branson High School; Braxton Gross, Forsyth High School; and Arica Todd, Bradleyville High School
SCHOOL SUPPLIES REFRESHMENT
JATC Members Sheila Martin, Susan Thibeault-Linton, Debbie Lee, and Kelly Anstaett delivered school supplies and Walmart gift cards to Kirbyville, Hollister, Taneyville, Bradleyville, and Mark Twain.
School Supplies --This project provided supplemental school supplies and sanitizing supplies to elementary schools in February, 2025 for distribution to students on an as-needed basis. This year supplies were delivered to Bradleyville, Hollister, Kirbyville, Mark Twain, and Taneyville. Teachers at these schools also received $50 gift cards to purchase supplies for their individual classrooms. Teachers purchased supplemental items for class supplies, prizes for student rewards, math manipulatives, items for Valentine’s parties, etc.
Thank you to the Community Foundation of Taney County for the grant to support this project.
TENDER CRITTERS
PHOTO 1: Lauren Treme’s daughter broke her arm while visiting Branson and received a JATC Tender Critter (an elephant) from Cox Hospital to comfort her while she was in so much pain.; PHOTO 2: Father Jim of St. Joseph’s Anglican Church with a group of children and the Tender Critters they collected.; PHOTO 3: JATC Member Shanna Tilley donated a bag of Tender Critters from JATC to Sherriff Rod Daniels for use in his department,; PHOTO 4: Taney County Health Department allows children to choose from this wagon full of critters from JATC when receiving shots or having other medical procedures.
The Tender Critters Project provides new stuffed animals for children who are brought to the emergency room and/or admitted to Cox Hospital in Branson. At times this project will provide stuffed animals to Police, Sheriff, Fire, Emergency Responders, and/or any other organization in Taney County that needs to provide comfort for kids in a stressful situation. This wagon full of critters is located at the Taney County Health Department where children receiving vaccinations can choose one to hold and then keep after the experience of receiving a shot.
Special thanks to Pepsi Legends Theater, Branson Christian Church, and Branson Veterans of America (913) for their donation of critters to support this project.
KINDNESS EFFECT CARDS
KINDNESS EFFECT CARDS
This project began in October, 2020, when we delivered cards full of creative, tender, humorous, and heartfelt messages to 7 Taney County Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. Christmas , 2023, we delivered over 500 cards. If you would like to help by donating cards or writing cards at any time during the year, please contact us for more information at jatcmo@gmail.com.
Sam and Edee Walworth writing cards for this project.
Many JATC projects have been sustained over time. These include:
Annual scholarships
ScholarCare
Tender Critters
Santa's Gift House
School Supplies
Replenishment in January/February
Newer projects include
Celebrate Reading
Christmas Assistance
Elevate Kids
Halloween Grape Stomp
Joan Anderson Memorial Scholarship
Kindness Effect Cards
STEAMpunk Academy