DHS Christmas Shopping
JA Members do the Christmas shopping for 15 DHS children. The committee will be given a list of the children, their sizes, needs and wants. For example: needs would be coats, shoes, clothes, socks, etc. Wants might be items like radios, toys, cds, movies and infant toys. The committee will also be responsible for wrapping the gifts and getting them delivered to the DHS office. The project will start shopping in November 2008, with a deadline in early December 2008.
Jump Back to School
Jump Back to School is a project that JA would provide for DeSoto County children in need. This project would involve purchasing school supplies, tennis shoes and backpacks for 50 children and then putting on a back to school party where JA members would hand out the supplies to the kids. (DHS will provide the names of the children.) The party at Conger Park would be held on a Saturday in late July or early August.
Girls ‘U’
Girls ‘U’ would be an all-day, Saturday camp for DeSoto County sixth grade girls. This camp would take place on a Saturday in November at the DeSoto Civic Center from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Camp participants would be nominated from 6th grade teachers, counselors and DHS. The all-girl participants would be taught subjects such as: art, nutrition, self-image, and etiquette. This project committee would create the curriculum and activities for the day-long camp. T-shirts and goodie bags pertaining to subject matter would be passed out to all campers.
Mini-Grant
JA will provide 10 mini-grants to teachers in DeSoto County. These grants will be for the 2009-2010 school year. Each grant will be in the amount of $500 and will allow the winning teacher to use the money to benefit his/her students. This committee will be in charge of promoting the grants in schools, collecting all applications by the March 2009 deadline and helping in the selection of winners in April 2009. This committee will also facilitate an awards ceremony for all the winning teachers. Click here to see the winners for 2007 and 2008.
P.A.L.S.
Providing Aid Lending Support or "P.A.L.S." would be a project providing aid in the schools as well as supplies at DHS. This project would provide aid to teachers in schools who need assistance with purchasing supplies or items for needy children they may have in their classroom. This committee would work with the schools and teachers in addressing some of the greatest needs of children based on criteria we create. This committee would also supply DHS with diapers, personal hygiene items and other items that children placed in Foster Care at DHS would need. This committee will truly "provide aid and lend support" to children in DeSoto County.
Autism Early Intervention Golf Tournament
On May 8, 2008, The Autism Golf Tournament helped to raise money for DeSoto County School Children. This project requires volunteers to help with the golf tournament, the day of the event. Volunteer help will include anything needed that day including: working beverage carts, serving lunch, judging "closest to the pin" or other putting contests, help with registration, etc.
You Help Y-Cap
Y-Cap is an organization supported by the YMCA. This organization works with DeSoto County at-risk boys and girls ages 10-15, and is a prevention and intervention program concentrating on positive reinforcement and praising the youth for positive changes in their lives. Y-Cap currently has 100 youth and their families that they serve from DeSoto County. This committee would be in charge of purchasing turkeys for the families of Y-Cap children, and then purchasing $5.00 gift cards for the youth in Y-Cap to be given to them at Christmas.
DeSoto County Youth Court
The goal of the DeSoto County Youth Court is for these troubled teens to stay clean and sober. Each youth participant has goals set for him/her to complete by a certain time. Every two weeks the participants who have met his/ her goal is rewarded. This committee will purchase gift cards for the deserving teens.
House of Grace
The House of Grace is a Christian-centered organization serving abused women and their children. This committee will stay in continuous contact throughout the year with shelter. They will purchase and deliver needed items.
Santa’s Helpers
JA Provisional would take the children at Palmer Home shopping for Christmas gifts the kids wish to give to friends, family, etc. This committee would take the children to the mall, to shop in early December 2008. After shopping, the provisionals and children would then attend a wrap party where they could have cookies and hot chocolate, and wrap the gifts they have purchased.
Parent’s Night Out
JA Provisionals would care for the children in Palmer Home cottages one Friday night, each month for the 2008-2009 year. By caring for the children, the Palmer Home House Parents would be given an opportunity for a much deserved night out. This committee would be in charge of planning each night out’s fun activities and menus.
