Junior Auxiliary of Taney County (JATC) is recruiting women over 21 years of age who want to make a positive impact on the children in Taney County. JATC has approximately 40 members who annually contribute more than 4,000 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars as they strive to improve the mental, physical, social and emotional well-being of children in Taney County. There will be New Member Informational Meetings on March 29, April 3, and April 7th at the JATC office located at 114 West Adams Street, Branson, MO.

Each year JATC assesses the community’s needs and establishes service projects to address those needs. Many of their projects have been sustained for years, such as Scholarships for seniors from all 4 Taney County high schools, prom dresses for girls in need, stuffed animals (Tender Critters) for children in the local hospitals, Book Swaps for kids in extended stay motels, support for the School Backpack Program, support for the Christmas Assistance program, School Supplies Replenishment which includes Gift Cards for teachers and a plethora of school supplies, Empowering the Little Dreamers which provides financial and labor support for the Crisis Center including birthday parties and child care for the children so moms can attend counseling sessions, and Santa’s Gift House which allows children to do their own Christmas shopping. Three of our newer projects are the Kindness Effect Cards project which delivers cards full of creative, heartfelt, and humorous messages to residents of Taney County Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities, the Shoebox Project designed to lift the spirits of children in our community, and the Steam Punk Academy where the kids will go through a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math obstacle course and upon completion will receive a Halloween costume.

JATC members usually raise money for these projects through one major event - a fun Trivia Challenge with dinner, live entertainment and a Silent Auction, but the COVID pandemic has caused us to think outside the box and look for other ways to finance our projects. The women also have social events that contribute to the fun and passion they demonstrate while helping the community. Their slogan is Caring Hearts--Helping Hands—Changing Lives.

JATC, a local chapter of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, Inc. (NAJA), has been making a difference since 1998. NAJA is a nonprofit corporation based in Greenville, Mississippi, with 98 chapters in 8 states and more than 15.000 members. NAJA encourages its members to render charitable services that are beneficial to the general public, with particular emphasis on children, and to cooperate with other organizations performing similar services.

To RSVP or to get more information on being a part of this group, contact Junior Auxiliary of Taney County via email at jatcmo@gmail.com, on Facebook or by texting or calling Paula Gillispie, Membership Chair 417-294-2745.