Service Projects

The Playground at Catfish Row www.playgroundatcatfishrow.org
Purpose: To construct a community-built, handicapped-accessible playground for the children of Vicksburg. This playground was designed by children with the help of Leathers & Associates and built by volunteers through funds raised by JAV members. The total cost of this playground is over $200,000.

NOTE: This project won NAJA's 2008 Martha Wise Award, which is awarded to a Chapter for an outstanding new project designed to encourage Chapters in carrying out the basic objectives of Junior Auxiliary, to search for community needs, and to demonstrate how these needs may be met in a community with a population over 30,000.

Camp Silvercloud
Purpose: members implement a day camp for mentally and physically challenged children.
Time: May 28- May 30

Children's Shelter
Purpose: to provide activities, parties and babysitting for children living in the Warren County Children's Shelter.
Time: year round

Community Outreach
Purpose: to reach out to needy children in our community, primarily by providing sweatshirts and jackets to under privileged children, and by assisting the Vicksburg Warren School District's School Social Workers by supplying items for their clothes closet and fulfilling special requests as needed. A benevolence fund is also included to assist with families in times of emergency.
Time: year round

Family Development
Purpose: to provide support to young disadvantaged mothers and their children by assisting in varying capacities at the Family Development Center. Members provide supplies necessary for quality childrearing to moms enrolled in parenting classes. Members also enhance language development for toddlers by reading regularly and providing books for those enrolled in the early intervention program.
Time: year round

LEAP (Learning to Eat and Play)
Purpose: to teach nutrition and fitness to school-aged children to promote healthy choices.
Time: school year

Safety Town
Purpose: to teach basic safety to children in the community during a five day camp in the summer.
Time: June 9-June 13

Provisional Project
Purpose: provisional members fulfill a need in the community by implementing a project of their choice.
Time: during provisional training