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 initiate seasonal read alouds. A new Outreach with CAM at White River Apartments has been added to the program.
Sam Walworth, one of our young readers donated a great collection of his books for the project. Branson Daybreakers Rotary Club donated $1500 to buy new books for this project. All books will be stamped identifying Branson Daybreakers Rotary Club as the donor.
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!
Central Bank is sponsoring this project with a donation of $500, books, green ducks, and an appearance by Dollar Bill. Camping World is also a sponsor for this event.
Renea Daniels presents JATC members Sheila Martin and Sheryl Schiller with a check and samples of the books and ducks.
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. 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 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, Paula Eighmy, Sharmon Hagler, and Colleen Neill 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 Anna Zerbe, a graduate of Branson High School. She plans to major in Business and minor in Marketing.
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: Kylie Calhoun, Forsyth (Year 4) and Gemma Reding, Forsyth (Year 2) have been approved to renew their ScholarCare awards for the 2024 -2025 school year. We are pleased to add Kierra Greco, Branson (Year 1) and Rajan Raghani, Branson (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 2024-2025 scholarships: Charli Gillan, Branson High School; Nickolas Guy, Forsyth High School; Kalea Snow, Branson High School; and Kaylee Umbright, Branson High School
Bradleyville and Hollister did not have any applicants this year.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES REFRESHMENT
JATC Members Paula Eighmy, Robin Osbern, Sheryl Schiller, Susan Thibeault-Linton, and Debbie Lee delivered school supplies and Walmart gift cards to Bradleyville, Hollister, Mark Twain, Taneyville, and Kirbyville (not pictured).
School Supplies --This project provided supplemental school supplies and sanitizing supplies to elementary schools in February, 2024 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 $40-$50 gift cards to purchase supplies for their individual classrooms. Teachers purschased items such as volleyballs, snacks, and math manipulatives.
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 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