The Junior Auxiliary of Searcy (JA) recently educated their new provisional class through a scavenger hunt that led them to various locations where JA conducts service projects.
The first stop was the Sunshine School located at 901 Airport Loop in Searcy. The Sunshine School is the chapter’s pride and joy; JA members founded the school on October 4, 1965, and still work closely with the students in many ways. Emily Boyd, JA Vice President, explained to the provisional class how JA supports the Sunshine School through service projects.
The second stop was Harp’s Grocery Store located at 2525 West Beebe-Capps in Searcy. Jessica Collins, Food Baskets Chairperson, educated provisionals about this important project. Food Baskets is a large project organized to provide food for families at Thanksgiving. Local schools help gather items, and participate in a contest for who can raise the most. Over 300 families were served in 2012.
While still at Harp’s, Heather Glenn, Angel Tree Chairperson, explained the JA Angel Tree Project. Harp’s is just one of the locations where JA sets up an Angel Tree booth each holiday season. Angel Tree is a project near and dear to many members’ hearts. JA members organize this annually to help provide Christmas presents to local children who would otherwise have none. The Department of Human Services (DHS) and state funded organizations give lists of children in need and JA has booths in various locations in Searcy encouraging passers-by to “adopt an angel.” JA members love hearing the stories about how the families were touched, or JA members and their children who got so much joy shopping for their special angel each year. Approximately 400 children were given a wonderful Christmas thanks to Angel Tree in 2012.
The third stop on the scavenger hunt was the Searcy Country Club located at 2729 West Country Club Road in Searcy. Ashley Marshall, Finance Chairperson, explained that this is where the Annual Charity Benefit Ball takes place. The Charity Benefit Ball will be held on March 1, 2014 at 6:30 p.m., this coming spring.
The Charity Benefit Ball is the Junior Auxiliary of Searcy’s largest fundraiser to support the aforementioned projects as well as many more projects like Child Lures, Covering Kids, JA Scholarships and activities at A Day of Caring as well as numerous projects involving the Sunshine School throughout the year.
The Charity Benefit Ball evening will include dancing, hors d’oeuvres prepared by the Searcy Country Club Chef, a live band; Boom Kinetic, as well as silent and live auctions. The success of the Charity Ball determines how much the ladies of JA can help in the community in the coming year.
Searcy Country Club will also be the location for the First Annual JA “Fore! the Kids” Golf Tournament to be held on Friday, February 28, 2014.
The next morning JA members and provisionals wrapped up the retreat with Junior Auxiliary education.
Junior Auxiliary of Searcy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose purpose is to render charitable services which are beneficial to the general public, with particular emphasis on children. JA is a group of women dedicated to improving the lives of children in Searcy and White County. JA projects are designed to fulfill the virtues of Charity, Youth, Health, Community Service, and Leadership in members and those it serves. JA believes that by caring today we build character for tomorrow.
To learn more about Junior Auxiliary, to inquire about the “Fore! The Kids” Golf Tournament, or to purchase tickets to the Junior Auxiliary Charity Benefit please contact any JA member, email junior.auxiliary@yahoo.com, or you may send a message on Facebook (Junior Auxiliary of Searcy, Arkansas) and a member will respond to you promptly.
