ALTON – Quality Buick GMC Cadillac and Junior League of Alton are involved in a multitude of community service projects, but one of their favorites now is the Stock Santa’s Sleigh Day held at the dealership.
This was the third year in a row for the Stock Santa’s Sleigh Day and once again it was a success.
Our 2017 Provisional Class wrapped up their new member project on 12/6/17 – and presented a big check to the folks at Beverly Farm. In total, they will have raised $2,300 to benefit this amazing local home to nearly 400 people who live with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Along with several active members of League, the members also sang carols with the residents prior to the check presentation – great crowd! Thank you to everyone who made this possible!
See more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmag4chW
Members donated time, Christmas treasures, and talent on Sunday, Dec. 3 to decorate Wish and Wear Dress Rentals (owned by our very own Abby Ontis) as our entry in the 2017 Best Christmas Display Contest.
The contest is an effort to decorate Broadway storefronts and help Alton get into the Christmas spirit.
JLGA participated in the Community Hope Center’s Thanksgiving Day meal delivery effort again this year. Check out our coverage in The Telegraph.
Leaguers Amber Haring and Beth Wiemers delivered snack items off of the Alton Boys & Girls Club’s Wish List to a very thankful group this month. Snacks were donated by members at the October General Membership meeting.
The program serves snacks four days per week to around 150 youth per day. Contact Al Womack, Jr. at (618) 462-6249 for more information about the programs needs.
JLGA members and their families posed as witches and wizards and paraded through the streets of Alton during the annual Alton Halloween parade on Tuesday, Oct. 31. The parade is said to draw 30,000 spectators annually.
Junior League of Greater Alton participated in Socktober this year. Thanks to member efforts, around 1,230 pairs of feet (infant through adult) will be warmer this winter!
Latitude Collaborative scholars helped decorate paper socks to deck boxes out in Socktober spirit. The boxes were then placed across the Riverbend at businesses that agreed to allow us to collect socks at their location(s).
Charities that will distribute donated socks include All God’s Children Shall Have Shoes, Salvation Army, Oasis, and Community Hope Center.
Pictured above, the students were very excited to receive a donation of books from the JLGA Community Outreach Committee.
On Oct. 5, Junior Leaguers planted fall flowers with Alton Main Street to help beautify our community. Thanks to their efforts, the area of 3rd Street, Belle Street and State Street look great!
ALTON – In conjunction with this weekend’s Family Fun Day fundraiser for the Gordon Moore Park Restoration Project on Sunday, Junior League of Greater Alton will have a number of trucks on display for attendees to touch, hear and see.
Big Wheels Big Hearts will include an ambulance, school bus, rock crawler and many more working vehicles and trucks for kids to see and explore up close. The event will include several selfie booths, and will be located nearby other fun and games in the Family Fun Day Kids Area, just to the left once patrons enter the park.
“We are excited for this first time event and the chance to let area residents get to know JLGA and what we are all about,” said Lisa Crause, Big Wheels Big Hearts Chair of the Junior League of Greater Alton. “We have a lot of fun lined up for the whole family, so come out and see us!”
Big Wheels Big Hearts will run from noon-4 p.m. and is free to enter once inside the park.
Junior League of Greater Alton will be selling refreshments and offering “fun packs” for the children, for a suggested donation of $5 per bag while supplies last, to raise funds for its Community Outreach efforts in the River Bend area. JLGA is also looking to partner with more organizations and businesses in the community, and will accept donations by cash and check.
“JLGA focuses on making life better for the women and children of our community, and participates in a number of initiatives all year long, including food drives, citywide cleanups, backpack care packages and much more through our Community Outreach committee,” said JLGA Community Outreach Chair Rhonda Brinkman. “Most recently, we teamed up with the YWCA in Alton for a Zumba Fundraiser to benefit their Women’s Empowerment Center, and we are collecting items this month and next for the Alton Boys & Girls Club snack program.”
Family Fun Day runs from noon-5 p.m., with fun and activities for people throughout Gordon Moore Park. It will include free games, face painting, arts & crafts, vendors, special displays, alumni sporting events and a car show, among many other activities. General admission is a suggested donation of $10 per car. Learn more at gordonmooreparkrestoration.com.
Details about Big Wheels Big Hearts can be found at www.facebook.com/JuniorLeagueGreaterAlton/ and http://juniorleaguealton.org/community-impact/current-projects/big-wheels-big-hearts/
JLGA welcomes all parties interested in displaying their specialty trucks and tractors for kids to explore. For information, please contact Lisa Crause, (303) 995-6452 or errntogo@msn.com.
The Junior League of Greater Alton, established in 1952, is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to empowering women and making the community in and around the Riverbend a better place for a diverse population of children and their families. Upon researching the area’s needs, JLGA most recently teamed up with Lewis and Clark Community College’s GED program to help improve family literacy in the region. JLGA is a chapter of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. and is dedicated to the training and development of local women leaders and volunteers making an impact in the community. To learn more, visit www.juniorleaguealton.org.
JLGA co-hosted an 80s-themed Zumba fundraiser, along with the Alton YWCA, to benefit the YWCA’s Women’s Empowerment Center Saturday, Sept. 23. Thanks to all who were able to make it out or donate to the Career Closet!