One of the annual fundraising events for the Junior Auxiliary of Taney County benefitted another local non-profit, Christian Action Ministries (CAM). The JATC hosted its annual Grocery Grab on Saturday, November 23 at the Rhodes Family Price Chopper on 76 Country Blvd. in Branson. The organization spent several week leading up to the event selling $20 tickets for a chance to run through a grocery store for four minutes on an uninterrupted shopping spree. They then had a drawing on Monday, November 18. This year’s winning ticket belonged to Mandy Farrow, former publisher of the Branson Tri-Lakes News. Farrow has relocated to Texas so she donated her winning ticket to CAM to benefit our local food pantry. The second place winner of a $100 gift card to $50 gift card to Rhodes Family Price Chopper, and she also donated her winnings to CAM.

Executive Director of CAM Michele Dean was the designated shopper and planned her shopping experience before-hand to get high ticket items needed for the pantry, including turkeys and other meats. Dean thanked Farrow for donating to the pantry. “Mandy is the reason why I am here today. Mandy and Frankie’s ticket that they purchased, they donated it back to CAM”, Dean said, “I’m on in her place today because she’s moved to Texas, but she is still supporting this community, and we’re so happy for that. We were also gifted a $50 gift card at Price Chopper by Rachel Goeke. She was one of the winners and she gave hers back. This community is amazing. I know I say it all the time, the caring community here in the Ozarks matches no others.”

Dean raced her way through the aisles grabbing needed items to help CAM fight food insecurity in Stone and Taney counties. Crossing the finish line with a heavy load, which filled one cart to the rin, Dean was all smiles. She was able to grab groceries and essential items totaling $893.87.

“I was able to get things for our unsheltered populations.” Dean said “I was able to get things for our families that have dietary issues. I got things for people who have problems eating and chewing. I got some of those protein shakes, so that’s great. Lots of meat for our Thanksgiving baskets, for smaller families and larger families. I also got some microwaveable food.”

Dean said she is grateful for the opportunity to shop at the Grocery Grab to help the community and those in need. “It is all to go back to help serve our neighbors in need. So thank you so much Price Chopper, Junior Auxiliary, Mandy and Frankie,” Dean said. “In a few minutes I get to go back and take my time with the $50 gift card that was a donation by Rachel. So we’re going to go back and get some cranberry sauce and some cornbread muffin mix to go with our holiday basket. Thank you to the community.”

CAM began in 1984 when eleven churches met to discuss a growing problem of how to minister to the poor and needy of this community in a more structured way. Each church was experiencing increasing demands on both resources and involvement of church staff from people begging for assistance. These churches and community leaders formed Christian Action Ministries to serve as the local outreach food pantry. In addition to their Branson location, the organization has a second location in Forsyth and mobile outreach distributions to several towns in both Stone and Taney County. Last year, CAM assisted more than 40,000 residents of Taney County and distributed in excess of two million pounds of food.

The JATC was chartered by a group of women in 1998. It now has approximately 50 members, who annually contribute more than 4000 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). Their slogan is “Caring Hearts-Helping Hands-Changing Lives”.

JATC’s Grocery Grab was sponsored by Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Doug Baker Insurance, and the Branson Tri-Lakes News.

Published by: Branson Tri-Lakes News, Saturday, November 30, 2024; AJ Fahr