JATC MARKET DAY WAS A SUCCESS!
JATC Market Day was held on November 9, 2019 at the Branson United Methodist Church, 1208 West Hwy 76 Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both indoor and outdoor spaces were sold to a wide variety of vendors comprised of local businesses, hand-made items, jewelry, crafts, and yard sale items. Our vendors included Scentsy, Nowex, It’s a Hoot Papercrafting, Loveables by Leslie, J Creations, Lip Sense, Art from the Heart, Mary Kay, and more. Indoor booths rented for $50 and outdoor booths were $30.
The original Market Day was planned by the newest members of JA and turned out to be a great idea. On our second attempt at a Market Day, we doubled our profit. Thanks to all who purchased booths and came to shop!
Without fundraisers like this and businesses who support us through donations, we wouldn’t be able to provide the many JATC projects that we offer for kids. Some of those projects include: Book Swap where JA members exchange books once a month at six 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 (Scholarship applications are now available on our website at jatcmo.org) ; Scholar Care (Scholar Care applications are now available on our website at jatcmo.org) provides financial and monthly support for a college student each year; Prom Dresses for girls in need; financial and labor support for the Crisis Center of Taney County including birthday parties and kid therapy so that moms may attend counseling sessions; and School Supplies “refreshment” in January for elementary schools in Eastern Taney County.
Members raise money for these projects through one major event - a fun Trivia Challenge with dinner, live entertainment, a raffle and a Silent Auction held in the spring each year. Our 20th Annual Trivia Challenge and Silent Auction will be held at the Chateau on the Lake on April 4, 2020, but we also raise money from other events such as Belk’s Charity Days, AmazonSmile, Mr. G’s Annual JATC Days, grants and individual donations. Generous local businesses and individuals also donate to JATC’s various events including Doug Baker State Farm Insurance, Ozark Mountain Ear Nose & Throat, Binswanger Glass, State Park Marina, Central Bank of Branson, Edward Jones-Mitch Holmes, First Community Bank of Branson, Branson Bank, Lowe’s, Sir Speedy Printing, Edward Jones-Mitch Holmes, Ollis/Akers/& Arney, The Farmhouse Restaurant, Edward Jones-Mac McGregor, and many more. And now we can add Market Day to our list of successful fundraisers.
We would like to invite you to our next major service project coming up soon: Santa’s Gift House will be held at the Family Life Center of the Branson United Methodist Church on December 14, 2019 from 9 am to noon. Children in grades Pre-K through 4th grade may purchase four handmade items at a nominal price of 50 cents each for their loved ones. There will also be snacks provided by the JA elves and a craft table where children can make something to take home for themselves. And Santa will be making a stop! Be sure to stop and see us that day.
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. 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 Tri-Lakes News, Saturday, December 7, 2019