04/07/2024
As we kick off JA Week 2024 we would like to share with you how our organization began over 82 years ago.
Our history originally started in the midst of The Great Depression, in 1935. Two doctors in Greenville, MS, Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Gamble, contacted the society editor of the Delta Democrat Times, Louise Crump, for help. These doctors saw daily the plight of Greenville’s underprivileged children that were living in back alleys and on shanty boats on the river. They asked Ms. Crump to solicit the aid of her friends in providing food, clothing, and toys, along with transportation to the doctors’ and dentists’ offices. She contacted nine women who met with her in her home. They assessed themselves $5 each to begin their work. They got businesses and other individuals in Greenville to provide services and goods. Local dentist and doctors donated their time, and membership grew.
Now, this is where NAJA history begins. The Greenville women began to realize that there were other groups of women similar to theirs in other towns, and by 1940 they began to meet with some of them around the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta. They decided to join forces and, using the Junior League (which had already been started) as a model, they drew up a constitution on November 14, 1941 with Mrs. Crump as the first President of NAJA. The Charter Chapters were: McComb, Greenville, Greenwood, Leland, Laurel, Meridian, Vicksburg and West Point, MS and Pine Bluff and Russellville, AR.
Today there are 91 Chapters with over 17,000 members in seven states in the South. Chapters find needs that are not being met in their communities and develop projects to meet those needs.
To learn about how to become part of Junior Auxiliary of Rogers-Bentonville, please contact [email protected]. 👑
