Nonprofit of the Year
Junior Women's League of Smithfield Sponsored By:
Nonprofit of the Year helps to meet community’s needs By MIKE BOLLINGER
T
he 88 members of the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield are constantly working to make sure as many needs as possible in Johnston County are met. “We work to fund programs that don’t necessarily get attention from other organizations,” President Kelly Blanchard said. The JWL partners with the Partnership for Children of Johnston County, Harbor of Johnston County, the Johnston Health Foundation, the Miracle League of Johnston County, the Me Fine Foundation, My Kid’s Club and the SECU Hospice House of Johnston Health. “We’ve had the same partners from the beginning. As the county grows, the needs of our partners grow,” Blanchard said. The JWL has chosen food insecurity as the group’s focus topic. Blanchard said members have come up with several ideas and ways to help. One of those ways has been to build “blessing boxes.” These 30 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]
boxes are located at the Benson, Clayton (stations 1 and 2), Kenly, Meadow, North Side Fire and Rescue Station 1 (Archer Lodge), North Side Fire and Rescue Station 2 (Thanksgiving), Pine Level, Selma and Smithfield fire departments. People can put donations of nonperishable food and other items in the boxes, and those who need help can take what they need. “This program has really expanded. Schools and churches are also putting them out on their own,” Blanchard said. Seeing that children needed a good source of protein, the JWL started its Peanut Butter Buddies program. In the beginning, the goal was 900 jars. The first year, 3,300 jars were collected. This year, the organization collected 4,932 jars of peanut butter. They were distributed to the 23 county elementary schools that participate in the Backpack Buddies program, five middle schools and My Kid’s Club. Members have put together a cookbook for women at Harbor of Johnston County, a domestic violence and assault agency, to help the women with making affordable
meals using the resources they have. In addition, JWL has started Fostering With Dignity. Through this program, members raised money and packaged duffel bags that were given to foster care children. The group made 260 bags. “Some of these children come to care with little or nothing,” Blanchard said. Through another JWL program, older children can get clothes from a clothes closet established at the county department of social services. The organization’s Adopt a Golden Angel program saw members sew caddies to give to older people that included adult coloring books, back scratchers and other items. Also helping foster care children and senior citizens is the Letters from Santa program. Santa Claus sent letters to 195 foster children and 125 senior citizens through this effort. “We have two big projects that are our major fundraisers. We have Touch A Truck in the fall and Big Night Out in the spring. The money raised goes to community impact grants. Since the League’s establishment in February 2016,
