WHAT WE DO
Junior Auxiliary of Cleveland, TN exists to serve children and families in the Cleveland/Bradley County area. Our projects focus on meeting basic needs of life, providing educational tools, and partnering with other non-profits in their community work. Here are some of our long-term (ongoing) projects:
TEDDY BEAR PICNIC
JA of Cleveland holds a Teddy Bear Picnic each year at our local library. This free event is in late summer/early fall and we host around 200 children from the ages 4-7. We do games, crafts, activities, and also provide each child with a new book and a snack pack. It is our longest running active project, spanning 26 years!
LUANNE'S LOVE
In partnership with The Boys and Girls Club and in honor of life member Luanne Winn, this project helps promote health and fitness through fun activities for kids. Quarterly themes include a Thanksgiving Feast, Dental Awareness Month, Spring Fling, and more.
HAVE A HEART, GIVE A SOLE
In honor of Melissa Huggins Jones, who tragically passed after her provisional year, this shoe drive provides a brand new pair of shoes for local children in need. Working with school guidance counselors, our last drive provided 300+ pairs of shoes to children in Cleveland and Bradley County.
JA LITTLE LIBRARY
Ever seen the little houses around town that have free books to share? Those are Little Libraries! The 2020-2021 Provisional Class constructed a little library on Oakland Drive in 2021. In addition, our chapter donates to existing little libraries all over Cleveland and Bradley County.
FAMILY FOCUS
From car repairs to counseling, food to fire recovery, community support to school supplies, JA comes alongside local families in need through Focus Families. Each year, we adopt families in our community, providing support for their unique needs. This project changes every year and with every family. We provide specific resources and short-term aid on a case-by-case basis.
JACKETS FOR JUNIORS
One of the simple luxuries we take for granted is a good winter coat. Working together with middle school counselors, JA provides heavy winter jackets or hooded sweatshirts to middle school students in need. Last year, we provided nearly 200 heavy winter jackets and hoodies to local teens.
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS
It is also our joy and pleasure to partner with other organizations doing incredible work to build and improve our Cleveland and Bradley County community. These include Isaiah 117 House, Got Her Covered, Spookley (The Square Pumpkin), snacks for elementary students and more!
