Page 78 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2025

story by Gaye Winter
photos courtesy of Junior Auxiliary Chapters of South Mississippi
Since 1941, The National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA) has been providing necessities for the children of our communities. Now, almost 85 years later, in the 21st century, volunteers are still following through on this mission.
Today, NAJA is made up of several diverse and caring chapters of strong, professional women that want to be a part of NAJA because the focus is on child welfare, health, recreation, culture, and education, aiming to improve the lives of children and their families. This work is achieved through various community service projects and initiatives undertaken by individual chapters: back-to-school supplies, clothes closets, the prom closet, and projects that help children with food insecurity as well as many others.
NAJA is made up of nearly 100 Junior Auxiliary Chapters throughout Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee with over 15,000 members in those
seven states. Chapters find needs that are not being met in their communities and develop projects to meet those needs. Because the welfare of children is why Junior Auxiliary started, every chapter is required to have at least one child welfare project with an ongoing relationship between the chapter and the recipient. Keep in mind that Junior Auxiliary members volunteer a total of 108,000+ hours a year for children!
The chapters are divided into six regions and each region has a CSC who acts as a liaison between National Headquarters and the chapters. National Headquarters is in Greenville, Mississippi. I am honored to be the CSC for Region 6 East which encompasses eight mainly coastal chapters in two states, including the Junior Auxiliary of Hancock County, Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport, Junior Auxiliary of Biloxi-Ocean Springs, and Junior Auxiliary of George County.
Junior Auxiliary of George County.
In 1935, Louise Crump began soliciting her friends in providing food, clothing, toys, and transportation to doctors’ and dentists’ offices for underprivileged children. Ms. Crump contacted nine women to meet in her home and decide how to best help the children of Greenville. They found businesses and other individuals in the Greenville Community to endorse and support their work with children.
Soon, the women of Greenville, Mississippi, began to realize that there were similar groups of women in other towns around
the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta that wanted to help children. They decided to join forces, and using Junior League as a model, they drew up a constitution on November 14, 1941 with Ms. Crump as the first President of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries.
The Junior Auxiliary was founded on the principles of helping children and making a difference in their lives; it also provides women the opportunity to serve and be a vital part of their communities.
78 | September 2025
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living