10 Apr 2017 Junior Auxiliary of Searcy celebrates National JA Week

Junior Auxiliary of Searcy recently celebrated National JA Week (April 2-8).

This annual celebration is a time to pause and thank the community, sponsors and volunteer members who work so hard year-round to make a positive difference. Junior Auxiliary of Searcy is a non-profit, volunteer organization that has been a part of the White County community since 1962. The organization, whose mission is to help children and families in need, currently has 23 members who donate more than 1,200 hours per year to the chapter’s various projects.

The Sunshine School project is at the heart of JA of Searcy’s service to children in the community. “Junior Auxiliary is the founding mother for the Sunshine School. It has continued to be involved for 50-plus years. JA of Searcy is vital to the Sunshine School both financially and voluntarily,” said Mary Lou Dunn.  

Junior Auxiliary of Searcy provides services to the Sunshine School year-around, including monthly meals for one of the Sunshine School families and hosting monthly birthday parties for the students and teachers.  

In August before school starts, the Sunshine School holds a three-day camp at Camp Wyldewood. Junior Auxiliary of Searcy provides crafts for the Sunshine School students in attendance. Members also assist the students and watch them while swimming.

Each October, JA of Searcy hosts the school’s annual Halloween Carnival. This is always a fun and exciting time. JA of Searcy provides games, prizes, snacks, a photo booth and a cake walk. In April, they have an Easter Party for the students, where they provide hundreds of pre-filled eggs and hide them for an Easter egg hunt. Junior Auxiliary of Searcy also provides meals for the Sunshine School faculty and helps with the Special Olympics.

JA of Searcy also supports the Searcy Learning Center by providing activities and resources to serve as an incentive program for students. The organization provides needed items, such as new bean bag chairs and special snacks for the center’s “Fun Friday.”

Each year, Junior of Auxiliary participates in “A Day of Caring” by providing underwear to approximately 753 children through its Covering Kids project. JA of Searcy also helps prepare and serve lunches to approximately 2,000 families and volunteers.

Two of Junior Auxiliary of Searcy’s larger projects take place during the holiday season. Each Thanksgiving, JA works with the Searcy School District to collect and distribute food baskets to families in need. This past year, JA of Searcy partnered with Southern Bank to offer the school that collected the most cans a $500 prize. Junior Auxiliary member along with the help of the Searcy Beta Club and Southern Bank employees, sorted more than 12,000 cans and, with the help of the Head Start programs across the county, distributed them to more than 225 families.  

Christmas is a time of giving, and this year through JA’s Angel Tree project, and the help of community members, the organization was able to provide Christmas gifts for approximately 300 children.

Once a year, Junior Auxiliary hosts its Annual Charity Ball, which raises funds for all of the chapter’s projects throughout the year. This year’s ball raised $20,437 that will go toward continuing their service to the community.

“JA Week is an exciting week for us, because it gives us a chance to thank all of the citizens of White County for supporting us in this work, and to recognize our wonderful corporate sponsors who finance these projects,” said Christina Pinner, public relations chair. “The families and children who we serve are so deserving and thankful for this assistance, and not of that would be possible without the support of the entire community.”

For more information or to make a tax deductible donation to JA of Searcy, visit facebook.com/JAofSearcy or call 501.254.9181.