The Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball is on the horizon, set for Feb. 8 at the new National Guard Armory on U.S. 98.
Cocktail hours will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. From 8 p.m. until midnight there will be the Roaring 20s Gatsby Gala. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. The band “Hillcrest” from Hattiesburg will be performing.
The citizen of the year will announced that night as well. Last year there were two winners: Kristian Agoglia and Jacob Harrison with Looks Great Services.
There will be live and silent auctions featuring a variety of items, including a football signed by several players from the New Orleans Saints including quarterback Drew Brees. Other sports items available at the auctions include memorabilia by local athletes playing professional sports. Various art pieces and other items that individuals and businesses have donated will also be available for auction. Split the Pot tickets and the Wine and Liquor Raffle tickets are available for purchase now.
The proceeds are to benefit the various service projects throughout of the year of the Junior Auxiliary. JA is a program to encourage women to be active in the community through leadership and volunteering. The commitment to the organization is at least five and a half years.
JA is active in community education, Crown Club, FLARE, community enhancement, Get Fit Get Active, JA Buddies, Jack N Jill, One and Done and a building project. Through the communication education aspect is Last Dance, a presentation to encourage seniors to make smart choices on prom night, a cyberbulling project and a scholarship to one student at each area high school.
Crown Club is a program for girls in the 11th and 12th grades to develop them into community leaders and volunteerism. FLARE offers overnight bags to children placed immediately into foster care and also other activities in foster care.
Community enhancement is done through workdays at Friendship Park. Get Fit Get Active is to provide ways to promote healthy lifestyles to people of all ages. They also sponsor a softball team and Field Day for the Rotary Club Special Olympics and award the Amber Owens Sumrall softball scholarship to a senior softball player within the county.
JA Buddies is a child welfare project to help families dealing with dependency issues. Jack N Jill includes projects such as Stuff the Bus for school items, a teacher donation of $100 worth of supplies. Little Free Libraries are set up in different parts of the county to provide children with an opportunity to read.
One and Done is an emergency welcome project that provides assistance to those who have unexpected needs and the building project include the JA House on High School Ave.
Tickets for the ball, split the pot and the wine and liquor raffle are available from any JA member. For more information, contact Kayla Thomas at Cook and Fortenberry at (601) 736-3141.
