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. During the year, seasonal read alouds with a gift of a book for each child attending will be held. Instructions to help parents learn how and when to begin reading to young children will be provided. A reading celebration with games, read alouds, art projects, snacks, and gift bags will be held at least once a year. Sheila Martin (Left), Chair of the Project, is sorting books by Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Chapter Books. Sheryl Schiller (Right) is identifying the type of book by putting different colored tape on it and placing a “Donated by Junior Auxiliary” sticker in the book. This Spring all the Book Collections have been updated with new books ordered by the committee.
CELEBRATE READING hOPES TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE EVENT A YEAR! lAST YEAR IT WAS hAPPY bIRTHDAY, DR. SEUSS! WATCH FOR READING “BY THE CAMPFIRE” IN JUNE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SEUSS!
Izzi and Gracie Shaw give the Grinch a hug while Cindy Lou Who played by Stormie Osborne stands by and watches.
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. During the year, seasonal read alouds with a gift of a book for each child attending will be held. Instructions to help parents learn how and when to begin reading to young children will be provided. A reading celebration with games, read alouds, art projects, snacks, and gift bags will be held at least once a year.
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CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE
JATC provided gifts to 101 children, ages 6 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 of Christmas Assistance for 2024 included Branson-Hollister Lions Club, Branson Christian Church, Branson Landing, and Ozark Family Vision Centre.
Dylan Correa and his mom Daysy smiled in joy when they received their 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 Tuesday and Thursday during the school year from 4:00-6:00pm. 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. Halloween costumes and other decorations were sold at a nominal cost to clear out our inventory and netted us almost $1,000.
JATC members working at the booth included L to R: Robin Osbern (Chair of the Project), Paula Eighmy, Sharmon Hagler, and Colleen Neill.
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 2023-2024 school year will be the first year for this scholarship, and it will be dedicated to students who plan on pursuing a career in Business, IT, or Accounting.
The first recipient of the Joan Anderson Memorial Scholarship is Paisley Brotherton, Hollister.
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. 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: Kayli Nimmo, Branson (Year 4), Bryce Reinke, Branson (Year 4), Kylie Calhoun, Forsyth (Year 3), Cooper Saxton, Branson (Year 2), and Gemma Reding, Forsyth (Year 1)
SANTA’S GIFT HOUSE
Top Row: Kodie Kelley with Captain America; Santa, Grace Harrison, and Mrs. Claus; Olaf gets a hug; Spiderman with Danny Meenen
Bottom Row: Spiderman with Isaac Wilson; Santa, Maddox, and Mrs. Claus; Spiderman with Matt Paxton; Santa, Elijah, and Mrs. Claus
The holiday season started early at the fourteenth annual Santa’s Gift House hosted by the Junior Auxiliary of Taney County (JATC). On December 9 and December 13, Santa’s Gift House provided 345 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 9 event, a nominal charge for the huge variety of gifts. The December 13 event was held at Bradleyville Elementary School where there was no charge. Merry Christmas to all!
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TANEY COUNTY
This project provides a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior at each of the four county high schools (Branson, Bradleyville, Forsyth, and Hollister), awarded on the basis of demonstrated initiative and commitment to community volunteer activities. Congratulations to the recipients of our 2023-2024 scholarships: Anna Thomason, Branson High School; Macy Sanders, Forsyth High School; and Dylan Hunt, Hollister High School.
Bradleyville did not have an applicant this year.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES REFRESHMENT
JATC Member Annette Sain presents Kirbyville Principal Lara Ernsting with Walmart gift cards.
School Supplies --This project provided supplemental school supplies and sanitizing supplies to elementary schools in January, 2023, for distribution to students on an as-needed basis. This year supplies were delivered to Bradleyville, Kirbyville, Mark Twain, and Taneyville. Teachers at these schools also received $65 gift cards to purchase supplies for their individual classrooms.
STEAMPUNK ACADEMY
The JATC STEAMpunk crew worked with kids to illustrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics! Kids enjoyed learning something new and so did the parents. The crew was assisted by Wally Baur in Engineering and Taney County Sheriff’s Department in Technology.
TENDER CRITTERS
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 Legends Theatre for their 2023 Tender Critter Drive which provided 183 stuffed animals for 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. This Christmas season, 2023, we will be delivering over 500 cards. If you would like to help by donating card 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