Community Service
Current Projects
Kids on the Block
This international troupe of puppeteers was founded in 1977, by a special education teacher in California. Now based in Columbia, Maryland, KOB has more than 1,600 puppet troupes all over the world and offers over 40 program topics that address important social/safety issues and disability awareness/medical & educational differences. Performances are done using bunraku, an ancient Japanese style of puppetry. Junior League of Olympia has sponsored the local troupe of puppeteers since 1990. Our troupe performs educational puppet shows at elementary schools throughout Thurston County. The most requested skit is the “Bullying” skit, but our troupe also performs skits on Divorce and Cerebral Palsy/physical handicaps.
For more information on The Kids On The Block, visit their website: www.kotb.com
For more information on The Kids On The Block, visit their website: www.kotb.com
Bullying Skit Performance Schedule 2010-2011:
Winter performances were completed in December. Check back soon for a schedule of the Spring session!
JLO Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship fund is for individuals in Washington States Foster Care program and will fund community college expenses. For more information and an application, click here.
Kids Count 2010-2011 Projects
The Junior League of Olympia's Kids Count committee is the organizing and implementing force behind our League's yearly community projects. This year our committee is comprised of eight extremely committed, hardworking women who have devoted themselves to creating successful partnerships with other organizations to make a difference in the lives of children within our community. With the numerous volunteers from our League who attend and assist in our projects, we are able to bring our vision and focus to life: Women leading Thurston county in collaborative community change, focusing on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Remodeling DSHS visitation rooms, providing clothing and supplies for children heading back to school, helping to purchase and package hygiene kits for homeless and poor students, providing book bags to encourage family reading, providing funding for and helping to assemble seed packets for GRuB, managing a fund set aside to help foster children with extra-curricular activities and individual needs, and hosting an evening of learning centered around nutrition and health are all projects we will be completing this year.
Laura Herman
Kids Count Chair
1. Foster Kids Care Fund:
Kids Count Committee members will continue to work with Foster Families, who can apply for reimbursements for their children’s after school activities, sports equipment, extra clothes, etc. through this fund. The Kids Count Committee will be in charge of this fund.
Timeline: September 2010 - June 2011
2. Little Red Schoolhouse Clothing and School Supply Collection and Distribution:
Provide low-income school-aged children with school supplies and clothing. Members assist in setup, staffing and cleanup.
Timeline: Members begin collecting clothes throughout the school year as feasible.
Tumwater Children's Administration is seeking the Junior League of Olympia's help in a visitation room make-over. We plan to make-over two of the visitation rooms this year. We would organize a group of volunteers to collect/purchase needed materials and would then have a work party to implement the changes.
Timeline: September - October 2010
4. South Sound Reading Foundation and Raising a Reader:
JLO will help purchase materials for 400 book bags and books. JLO would organize an event to sticker books and fill each book bag with literacy materials including a library card application. Each book bag will be stickered with the JLO logo which includes the words “Donated by the Junior League of Olympia.”
Timeline: March 2011
5. GRuB -- Annual Seed-Sorting Party:
JLO will become a partner with GRuB in keeping this Annual Seed-Sorting and Distribution Event alive. We will help to purchase bulk seeds and other necessary materials for the event, as well as volunteer the day of the event to assist in sorting, packaging, and distributing seeds to families.
Timeline: Planning begins in November 2010 and culminates in the Seed-Sorting Party in February 2011.
Remodeling DSHS visitation rooms, providing clothing and supplies for children heading back to school, helping to purchase and package hygiene kits for homeless and poor students, providing book bags to encourage family reading, providing funding for and helping to assemble seed packets for GRuB, managing a fund set aside to help foster children with extra-curricular activities and individual needs, and hosting an evening of learning centered around nutrition and health are all projects we will be completing this year.
Laura Herman
Kids Count Chair
2010-2011 Kids Count Projects
1. Foster Kids Care Fund:
Kids Count Committee members will continue to work with Foster Families, who can apply for reimbursements for their children’s after school activities, sports equipment, extra clothes, etc. through this fund. The Kids Count Committee will be in charge of this fund.
Timeline: September 2010 - June 2011
2. Little Red Schoolhouse Clothing and School Supply Collection and Distribution:
Provide low-income school-aged children with school supplies and clothing. Members assist in setup, staffing and cleanup.
Timeline: Members begin collecting clothes throughout the school year as feasible.
June: All schools lost and found clothes picked up at all 3 school districts
June-August: Clothes are sorted and washed for August distribution.
3. Children's Administration - Visitation Room Make-Over: Tumwater Children's Administration is seeking the Junior League of Olympia's help in a visitation room make-over. We plan to make-over two of the visitation rooms this year. We would organize a group of volunteers to collect/purchase needed materials and would then have a work party to implement the changes.
Timeline: September - October 2010
4. South Sound Reading Foundation and Raising a Reader:
JLO will help purchase materials for 400 book bags and books. JLO would organize an event to sticker books and fill each book bag with literacy materials including a library card application. Each book bag will be stickered with the JLO logo which includes the words “Donated by the Junior League of Olympia.”
Timeline: March 2011
5. GRuB -- Annual Seed-Sorting Party:
JLO will become a partner with GRuB in keeping this Annual Seed-Sorting and Distribution Event alive. We will help to purchase bulk seeds and other necessary materials for the event, as well as volunteer the day of the event to assist in sorting, packaging, and distributing seeds to families.
Timeline: Planning begins in November 2010 and culminates in the Seed-Sorting Party in February 2011.
6. YWCA -- FORKids program:
YWCA currently operates three main community programs, one of which is THE OTHER BANK. This school year, THE OTHER BANK is again partnering with the Thurston County Food Bank and local school districts in their FORKids program which uses backpacks to provide food to low-income children over the weekend. Once a month, these backpacks also include a basic hygiene kit comprised of toothpaste and toothbrush, bar soap, shampoo, and lotion. YWCA would like JLO to sponsor two months of the hygiene kits during the 2010-2011 school year. THE OTHER BANK would purchase the kit materials for our two months using the money we donate and we would then help to assemble the kits for distribution.
Timeline: January 2011
7. Kids in the Kitchen (AJLI directed):
Our goal is to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and to help prevent childhood obesity. We are partnering with the Hands-On Children's Museum for this event.
Timeline: May 2011
YWCA currently operates three main community programs, one of which is THE OTHER BANK. This school year, THE OTHER BANK is again partnering with the Thurston County Food Bank and local school districts in their FORKids program which uses backpacks to provide food to low-income children over the weekend. Once a month, these backpacks also include a basic hygiene kit comprised of toothpaste and toothbrush, bar soap, shampoo, and lotion. YWCA would like JLO to sponsor two months of the hygiene kits during the 2010-2011 school year. THE OTHER BANK would purchase the kit materials for our two months using the money we donate and we would then help to assemble the kits for distribution.
Timeline: January 2011
7. Kids in the Kitchen (AJLI directed):
Our goal is to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and to help prevent childhood obesity. We are partnering with the Hands-On Children's Museum for this event.
Timeline: May 2011