Junior Auxiliary of Taney County (JATC) members delivered school supplies to Mark Twain, Taneyville, Kirbyville and Bradleyville Elementary Schools during January. Knowing that many other organizations assist with items at the start of the school year, JATC’s annual delivery of school supplies is designed to help fill the shelves after the holiday break. JA members know there is a need in these schools and want to make sure they help fulfill these needs.

The much-needed supplies included notebooks, rulers, glue, glue sticks, markers, pencils, erasers, pens, scissors, crayons, folders, binder notebooks, notebook paper, construction paper, note cards, backpack and calculator sets. In addition, based on input from the teachers and counselors, JATC members brought socks, gloves, underwear, Sanitizing wipes, tissues and hand sanitizers to the schools. They also gave thirty $50 Gift Cards to the teachers to purchase needed classroom supplies.

Junior Auxiliary members begin collecting high demand items in August. They shop the sales and save them up for this time of year when the schools run low. Members donate many of the items and the budget allotted for this project goes to fill special requests from these schools and to purchase the Gift Cards for teachers to buy special items for their classrooms.

In addition to replenishing supplies for the Eastern Taney County Elementary Schools, JATC participated once again in Tiger Time and gave away lots of school supplies at Hollister’s Back to School program on August 14, 2017. As one member said “It takes a village” to have a successful program.

Donations for this project and others that JATC provide to the community can be sent to JATC, PO Box 862, Hollister, MO 65673. More information can be found on the Junior Auxiliary website JATCMO.ORG, their Facebook page, Junior Auxiliary of Taney County or via email at jatcmo@gmail.com.

JATC members strive to develop and execute projects that improve the mental, physical, social and emotional well-being of children and families in Taney County. More information about the organization and its projects is available at JATCMO.org. Approximately 50 members annually contribute more than 4,000 volunteer hours on projects including Santa’s Gift House; College Scholarships for a seniors at all four Taney County public high schools; Prom Dresses for girls in need; Heart of the Arts supporting arts activities for clients of the Developmental Center; financial and labor support for the Women’s Crisis Center, as well as child care so moms can attend counseling sessions; Homework Helpers for children who live in extended-stay motels; and Hip Hop into Fitness to encourage exercise and good nutrition habits for kids at local elementary schools.

Members raise money for these projects through one major event - a fun Trivia Challenge with dinner, live entertainment and a Silent Auction. This year the 18th Annual Trivia Challenge and Silent Auction will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Branson on April 14, 2018. Also, JATC raises money from other events such as Belk’s Charity Days and Schwan’s Cares as well as donations from corporate charitable giving (e.g., Amazon Smile, Usborne Books), generous local businesses (e.g., Doug Baker State Farm Insurance, Ozark Mountain Ear Nose & Throat, Mr. G’s Pizza, 417 Fundraising, Branson Bank, Central Bank, Great Southern Bank, American Family Insurance, and Lowe’s), grants and individual donations. JATC is more than a nonprofit organization, it’s a group of women united by a single cause and dedicated to helping the children of Taney County. That’s the magic of JATC. It was chartered by a group of caring, enthusiastic women in 1998 and continues to grow and thrive throughout Taney County.

JATC is part of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA), a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville, Mississippi. NAJA has more than 15,500 active, associate and life members in 98 chapters located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Their slogan is “Care Today-Character Tomorrow”.

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