Junior Auxiliary ladies assisted almost 300 kids as they played their way through a “fun course” tossing Grapes into a witch’s cauldrons, putting golf balls into pumpkin faces and tossing rings onto pumpkin stems at the Junior Auxiliary of Taney County's (JATC) activity booth at the Hollister Grape & Fall Festival on October 8, 2022.

Kids also enjoyed having their photo taken as the face of a pumpkin, and playing with the bubbles from the bubble machine. Of course, the kids loved getting a goodie bag at the end as an early Halloween treat. All the goodie bags contained information about the Santa’s Gift House which will be held on December 10 at the Branson United Methodist Church. Watch our Facebook Page for more information on this event.

JATC projects include: Book Swap where JA members exchange books once a month at three different extended stay motels to give children a chance to improve their reading skills; Tender Critters for children in trauma; Santa’s Gift House; College Scholarships for a senior at all four Taney County public high schools; Scholar Care provides financial and monthly support for a college student each year; and School Supplies “refreshment” in January for elementary schools in Eastern Taney County.

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 nearly 100 chapters located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Their slogan is “Caring Hearts, Helping Hands, Changing Lives”.

Published by: Branson Globe, October 28, 2022 and Branson Tri Lakes News, November 2, 2022.