Junior Auxiliary of Meridian
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Caring Hearts, Helping Hands, Changing Lives
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. And as it has been written…they laid down their bridge cards and golf clubs, hugged their own well-fed and well-cared-for children…went to meetings and began to go about the business of deciding how to best help these people. They raised money from local businesses, got free help from doctors and dentists and goods and other services donated. These Greenville women began to realize there were other groups of women similar to theirs in other towns…and by 1940, the Junior Auxiliary was born. Meridian was one of the charter chapters.
Ten years later, it was one of the founding chapters of NAJA, the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries. Representatives from Junior Auxiliaries from nine towns in Mississippi and Arkansas met in Greenville with the purpose of uniting as a national organization. Today there are 95 chapters in 7 states.
Meridian’s JA is a nonprofit organization that renders charitable services to Meridian and Lauderdale County with a particular emphasis on the needs of children. Their 5 standing projects include: Reading is Fundamental, Helping Hands, Teacher Mini Grants, Junior Auxiliary Mentors at Hope Village, and a 
newly added mentoring program for middle school aged girls. They also have a new provisional class project each year.
“We won two awards from NAJA this year for our service projects Helping Hands and Junior Auxiliary Mentors at Hope Village. I would advise other non-profits in our area to utilize existing community relationships with other organizations and businesses, and develop new ones. You never know who may be interested in joining your group, creating a partnership or sponsoring your work! Being a member of the chamber ensures these community partnerships. Through the support of many other chamber members, we are able to fulfill our mission to help the children of our area grow and flourish. We want to do our part to help aide other organizations and businesses fulfill their missions, all working together to better our community,” states Barbara Zeller, President 2021-2022.
Junior Auxiliary represents a serious endeavor on the part of women to be active and constructive community participants, and to assume leadership roles in meeting community needs. Junior Auxiliary provides the member with the opportunity to serve and to be a vital part of the community, encouraging members to render charitable services which are beneficial to the general public, with particular emphasis on children. Looking to get involved? The Meridian chapter has 58 active members, with provisional member recruitment beginning in August.