Junior Auxiliary of Taney County (JATC) launched a new service project in March.2021. Ninety-four plastic boxes were filled with fun items such as Legos, Birdhouse kits, Sonic Sound magnets, Play-doh, stickers, Silly Putty, coloring books and crayons, and delivered to Mark Twain and Bradleyville Elementary Schools for children in Pre-K through 4th Grade just in time for Spring Break.

This project was designed to lift the spirits of children, let them know that there are people in our community who care about them, and provide them with activities for Spring Break. It also exemplified the slogan of JATC: CARING HEARTS—HELPING HANDS—CHANGING LIVES

JATC appreciates Mini-Circuits for their donation of the plastic boxes for this project and the JATC members and Mini-Circuits employees who donated items and time to fill the boxes.

JATC supports numerous other projects 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. Two 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 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.

Donations for the Shoe Box project and others that JATC provides 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.

Because our major fundraiser - a fun Trivia Challenge with dinner, live entertainment and a Silent Auction - had to be canceled last year, community support has become even more essential. Special thanks for the donations we have received from corporate charitable giving (e.g., Amazon Smile, Walmart, and White River Electric), generous local businesses and churches (e.g., Belk. Mr. G’s, Branson’s Cowboy Church located at God & Country Theatre, Doug Baker State Farm Insurance, Ozark Mountain Ear Nose & Throat, 417 Fundraising, Branson Bank, Central Bank, First Community Bank, Edward Jones-Mitch and Jennifer Holmes, Edward Jones-Mac McGregor, Target, and Lowe’s.)

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 40 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 98 chapters located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.