Several years ago, Junior Auxiliary began replenishing school supplies for Eastern Taney County Schools in January with the idea that all schools get lots of donations in August when school starts, but halfway through the year supplies start to run out, particularly for the smaller schools.

In December we started our deliveries with a stop at Mark Twain Elementary. This school has seven teachers with approximately 50 students in grades K-8. We dropped off a variety of school supplies which included composition notebooks, 2 pocket folders, 3-ring binders, crayons, pencils, colored markers, ink pens, colored pencils, glue sticks, scotch tape, scissors, index cards, highlighters, rulers, etc. Teachers were also thrilled to receive items to help keep the kids healthy such as hand sanitizer, Kleenex, and Lysol wipes. And just for good measure, we threw in some hats, gloves, and socks. In January each of these seven teachers were given a $40 gift card to buy things that they might need for their individual classrooms.

In January we made the rest of our deliveries to Bradleyville Elementary School with approximately 95 students in grades K-6, Kirbyville Elementary School with approximately 100 students in grades K-3, and Taneyville Elementary School with approximately 125 students in grades K-6. Each of these schools received the same variety of school supplies that were given to Mark Twain. Teachers at each of those schools were also given $40 gift cards to purchase items for their classrooms.

Where do all these items come from? Junior Auxiliary members collect high demand items all year. 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 such as hand sanitizer and construction paper and to purchase a total of thirty-two Gift Cards.

In addition to replenishing supplies for the Eastern Taney County Elementary Schools, JATC participated once again in Night of the Tiger and gave away lots of school supplies at Hollister’s Back to School program on August 13, 2018.

Members raise money for this and other projects through one major event - a fun Trivia Challenge with dinner, live entertainment and a Silent Auction. This year the 19th Annual Trivia Challenge and Silent Auction will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Branson on April 6, 2019. Come join us “Down by the Sea”. JATC raises money from other events such as Belk’s Charity Days, Mr. G’s Pizza Annual JATC Days, and a Quarter Mania Paddle Party as well as donations from corporate charitable giving (e.g., Amazon Smile and White River Electric), generous local businesses (e.g., Doug Baker State Farm Insurance, Ozark Mountain Ear Nose & Throat, 417 Fundraising, Branson Bank, Central Bank, and Lowe’s.)

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 is more than a nonprofit organization, it’s a group of women united by a single cause. We are dedicated to helping and making a difference in the lives of 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. Approximately 50 members annually contribute more than 4,000 volunteer hours as they strive to improve the mental, physical, social and emotional well-being of children in 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 96 chapters located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Their slogan is “Care Today-Character Tomorrow”.

Published by: Branson Register, January 26, 2019; Branson Tri-Lakes News, January 26, 2019