The faces of the many thousands of individuals whose lives are touched by the efforts of nearly a hundred women of the Junior Auxiliary inspire us to fulfill our mission of dedicated service.
The Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg continues a journey we began in 1943, to strategically invest ourselves in making Hattiesburg, Mississippi a better place for women and children.
We know we are not alone on this journey. Rather, we are accompanied by countless local organizations and individuals who work with us. Together, we are improving conditions in the community, and continuing the tradition of volunteer community service in meeting the needs of the underprivileged. We are many things…women , mothers, teachers, students, doctors, lawyers, CEOs, and more. We come from different walks of life, but we share one common goal…to serve those less fortunate.
Today, we are facing a grave nationwide threat to our health and economic stability. We know that each day is bringing significant challenges and pressures on the operations of nonprofit organizations. We also know that our organization must keep our promise to our city and rise to challenges every day with ingenuity, compassion, resilience, fortitude, and integrity.
Times have changed, but throughout our chapter’s history, we find some recurring themes that are still with us today. We have remained true to our mission of service as we volunteer thousands of hours of service and provide the citizens and agencies of Hattiesburg with intelligent, efficient, educated volunteers, not just “willing hands.”
We honor and continue the journey begun by our 37 founders who were innovative and strategic in developing responses to emerging community needs. So, how do we fuel this journey? We do it with patience and perseverance and through partnerships with individuals and organizations who share our mission, passion, and determination to make meaningful, systemic change.
2020 was a record year for JA of Hattiesburg. We reached a new milestone in food, feminine hygiene supplies, and diaper distribution. That’s a testament to the commitment and compassion of our partner agencies, our financial supporters, and our members. It hasn’t always been easy. We’ve had to adjust our processes and make hard decisions. We’ve asked more from our supporters than ever. But the result of all that effort is undeniable.
Our journey continues and is always a work in progress, and we are committed for the long run. The faces of the many thousands of individuals whose lives are touched by the efforts of nearly a hundred women of the Junior Auxiliary inspire us to fulfill our mission of dedicated service.
This way of thinking is embodied in our vision for Hattiesburg , as a place in which all of our neighbors are nourished and empowered.
We know that vision is attainable — if we work together. Together, we make an impact. Together, we make a difference. Are you with us?
Sincerely,
Whitney Hinton
2020-2021 Chapter President
Comments