The hard work goes on year-round, but during the first week of April each year, the Junior Auxiliary of Saline County pauses to say thanks to the community for another great year.  A year packed with service to families and children through nine service projects that include everything from providing newborn essentials to new mothers to working with young women to promote a healthy body image to meeting urgent needs of families in the community.  For 40 years, the Junior Auxiliary has made a difference in the lives of the children of our communities, and we couldn't do that without the support of the citizens of Saline County.  We are so grateful to Mayor David Mattingly and the City Council for naming April 4, 2011 JA Day in Benton. 

"This is such an exciting week for us, because it gives us a chance to thank all of the citizens of Saline County for supporting us in this work, and to recognize our wonderful corporate sponsors who finance these projects," Becca Cobb, President of Junior Auxiliary of Saline County, said. "The families and children we serve are so deserving and thankful for this assistance, and none of that would be possible without the support of the entire community."

"Junior Auxiliary has a rich history of service, and the Junior Auxiliary of Saline County is carrying on that tradition. This Chapter embraces the founding principles of our national organization, “helping children and making a difference in their lives,” said Charlotte Seals, NAJA President.

“The Junior Auxiliary has helped my students at Bryant Elementary.  They have bought shoes for children throughout the year, and they have also provided clothing that is appropriate for the season.  One of my children received boots this year right before the big snow.  She was so happy to have those boots!  I am so thankful to the Junior Auxiliary for helping out students in our community,” recalled Glenda Bloxom, a first grader teacher at Bryant Elementary.

Benton Middle School Principal Sue Shults commended the volunteers for their work.  “The Junior Auxiliary has been a welcomed guest at our school for the past three years.  They have given their time, knowledge and concern to our seventh grade girls as they have shared their Food and Mood program.  The program shares important health information at an extremely critical time in the lives of our female students.  We continue to be thankful for their investment in our students' well-being."

JA of Saline County has approximately 40 members who donate thousands of hours every year to the chapter's various projects. The chapter raises funds each year through a Golf Tournament and their Annual Children’s Benefit, which was held in February of this year.  Thank you Saline County for your support over the past 40 years.  We look forward to another 40 years of service!

The Junior Auxiliary, with help from the Benton Rotary Club and the United Methodist Youth, is proud to once again host Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, December 11 from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Benton First United Methodist Church.  Children who could use a little extra joy this season are invited to join us for a pancake breakfast, crafts, games, gifts, and a visit with the big guy himself!  Santa will be on hand so you won't want to miss this.  For more information, click on the "Contact" button above to send us a message.

We hope to see you there!

Calling all ladies in Saline County!  Join us at Fitness Unlimited for Ladies Night Out and find out what the Junior Auxiliary is all about.  The event, sponsored by the Tri-Lakes edition, features lots of local vendors, emcee Barry Brandy of KATV, and is FREE to the public.  There will be lots of free samples, shopping, and door prizes.  Don't miss it!

Nearly 17 million children in America—that’s almost one in four—face hunger. We're not talking about craving a midnight snack, or being served chicken when they really want a hamburger.  This is real hunger, like many of us have never experienced.  And it’s likely that these children will endure lifelong consequences as a result of having limited access to nutritious foods. In fact, children who face hunger more likely to suffer:

• Weaker immune systems
• More stomachaches
• Headaches
• Colds
• Ear infections
• Fatigue
• More hospitalizations
• Behavioral difficulties
• Impaired performance in school-academically, athletically and socially
• A whole host of other lifelong consequences

The need in our state is great: 160,000 children are not getting the food they need, and Arkansas has the highest percentage of hungry children of any state in the country.  These are children that we might see every day.  It's hard for many of us to understand this type of hunger, but it faces children in our community every day.  The Junior Auxiliary of Saline County works with local organizations to identify children who might not have appropriate nutrition over school breaks.  These children participate in the free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs at school, but what do they do when school is out for the day?  Or for a week?  We work with these organizations to provide these children with backpacks full of healthy, kid-friendly foods that they can prepare themselves.

Your support allows us to offer programs like these to the children of Saline County.  Please consider donating to the Junior Auxiliary of Benton today.  If you know of a child in need, please click on the "Contact" tab above and let us know how we can help.

Thanks to all who came out and supported the Junior Auxiliary and the children of Saline County with our first annual "Putt the Kids First" Golf Tournament that was held on Friday, October 8, 2010 at Hurricane Golf and Country Club.  We had a wonderful day and raised a lot of money to support our projects which serve children and families in Saline County.  Special thanks to our corporate sponsors:  Brooke Andrews State Farm, Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic, Purdy Good Maintenance, Securitas, Infinity Homes, Tony Wright Construction, and Ouellette Dentistry.

You can check out photos from the event in our scrapbook.  Thanks to all who helped us make a difference in the lives of the children of Saline County!  We appreciate your support

Please join the Red Cross for a blood drive dedicated in special honor of Leikyn Turchi of Bryant, AR.  Leikyn is a beautiful little girl who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma this year. There is a critical need for blood in our state, and you can help.  The blood drive will be held Thursday, September 23, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Bryant Family Life Center at 508 N. Reynholds Road in Bryant.  To make an appointment go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code FUMCBryant. 

Leikyn and her friends at Arkansas Children's Hospital thank you! 

This year the Junior Auxiliary of Saline County will present “Putt the Kids First” Golf tournament at Hurricane Country Club. The tournament will be held Friday, October 8. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. with shotgun start at 12:00 Noon. You won’t want to miss this event!

Cost is $400 per team (four person scramble) and that includes lunch, dinner, drinks, and goody bags for the players. We’ll also have live entertainment from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

We’ll have special guests local celebrity radio personalities DJ and Poolboy from Alice 107.7. There are door prizes, putting contests, hole contests, and you could win a new car from Everett GMC or $5,000 cash for a hole-in-one!

All proceeds for this event go to benefit the children of Saline County and are 100% deductible. Sponsorships are still available. Call Brooke at 501.847.7787 or email her at brooke.andrews.prhx@statefarm.com for more information.

Help Make a Difference in the Life of a Child!