General Welfare/Clothing

Project Chairman: Betsy Swedenburg
Assistant Chairman: Joanna Covington
Clothes To Go Chair: Ashley Hughes
Assistant Chair Clothes To Go: Martha Imes
Clothing Room Chairman: Jules Heintz
Assistant Chairman: Pinkie Edwards
Assistant Chairman: Chaney Fair

One cannot deny the power of wearing nice, clean, well-fitting clothes and its direct correlation to a positive self-image.  In 1942, the ladies of Junior Auxiliary of Columbus saw the need in the Lowndes County community and took action, and the clothing project was born.  The Clothing Project is Junior Auxiliary’s longest running project, and it seeks to promote a more positive self-image by helping children feel more confident. Area school counselors, teachers, and principals from both the Columbus City Schools and Lowndes County Schools refer children to Junior Auxiliary.  After the referral process is completed, members contact the parent or guardian and complete an interview process during which information is gathered to determine if assistance is needed.  After a child has been found to be a candidate for this project, a private clothing appointment is scheduled at the Junior Auxiliary Hut.  There, members meet with the child and guardian and provide a wardrobe consisting of shirts, pants, socks, undergarments, a coat, a belt, and a hygiene bag.  All Junior Auxiliary members participate in the clothing project, which operates from August through March.  During the 2022-2023 year, members provided clothing to over 300 area school children.

Another component of the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus clothing project provides much needed and fast assistance in times of unforeseeable tragedy.  Known as “In-Depth,” this project provides immediate clothing assistance for families in extreme circumstances, usually due to house fires, floods, or tornadoes.  During the 2021-2022 year members clothed 22 children under in-depth.

Junior Auxiliary of Columbus also operates Clothes to Go, a clothing delivery project servicing all uniform schools in Lowndes County. Initially developed in 2020 as a trial extension of our traditional clothing project, Clothes to Go reduces the challenges parents face making their clothing appointments and transcends COVID limitations.  School guidance counselors refer children to Clothes to Go after identifying the need and fitting them at the school, just as Junior Auxiliary members would during a traditional clothing appointment.  Junior Auxiliary committee members then pack the clothing bags for delivery to the school every Friday morning.  During the 2021-2022 year, members provided clothing for 84 area school children through Clothes To Go.  

Junior Auxiliary of Columbus strives to make a difference in the lives of children who give the brightest of smiles and words of appreciation that are not just solely intended for our members, but also shared with those in our community whose generous donations allow us to continue serving their needs.  Thank you for your support of Junior Auxiliary of Columbus and our continued effort to serve and provide aid to the children of Lowndes County.