Foster Kids Graduation Party — JLO helps to support young adults identified by the state Department of Social and Health Services as participants in the foster care program by providing them with graduation gifts and a graduation celebration as they leave their foster families to start a life on their own. We generally support about 10 graduating students and fulfill their identified needs for items to start their new lives.

Little Red Schoolhouse, Back-to-school Drive — Each August JLO teams up with Little Red School House and other community partners to provide school supplies, backpacks, clothing, shoes and coats to school aged children in need. In 2006, 2007 children were served.

Keystone Crisis Nursery — This community partner program connects at-risk-parents, who desperately and immediately need a break from caring for young children, with temporary daytime childcare. JLO has contributed “Ditty Bags” for each child brought to the center for care. These children are often dropped off in a rush of confusion and without many basic necessities or comforts. Each Ditty Bag contains items such as: books, rattles, stuffed animals, toothbrushes, crayons and color books, tissue, etc.

DSHS Foster Care Holiday Party — JLO partners with DSHS to provide an evening of fun and festivities for Foster Care children and their Foster families. We offer a large variety of games, activities, crafts and entertainment as well as dinner and dessert. Santa visits and each child goes home with a stuffed animal and many other prizes and creations.

Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice MotherCare — The Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice MotherCare program assists new, high-risk mothers by offering support, and matching them up with volunteer mentors to assist them in acquiring important life and parenting skills. Each mentor is matched with one young mother and works closely with them during the first year of their baby’s life. With training from Providence, the mentor is there to support and counsel the young mother on things like: family budgeting, building a network of social support, keeping track of appointments, parenting, needs of babies, creating a safe and peaceful home, etc. More than anything else, a mentor makes sure their young mother knows they are not alone. In 2003, JLO offered an Angel Tree at the holidays to collect gifts and needed baby items for the mothers. In 2004, JLO assembled Layette Baskets for the new mothers to assist them as they prepared for their new baby. Baskets included: infant clothing, blankets, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, sippy cups, bottles, bibs, burp-clothes, washcloths, bath supplies, infant toys, books, laundry soap and fabric softener, crib sheets, etc.

In 2005, JLO hosted a celebratory picnic to offer recognition and appreciation for the mother’s and their mentor’s hard work. This picnic was also an opportunity for the new mothers to meet and form a support circle among each other.

Evergreen Vista Homework Club — This non-profit club serves low-income children by providing a safe and reliable place to go after school. The program offers healthy and hearty snacks, assistance with homework, tutoring, required 20-minutes of reading per child, activities/games that encourage cooperation and develop social skills, as well as consistent positive attention from adult role models. In 2005 and again in 2006, JLO has worked with the Homework Club to restructure and redecorate the rooms he uses. We provided new flooring, counter space, storage units, furniture, paint, supplies and food, and seasonal decorations. In addition, each year JLO assists with the annual Halloween party by providing volunteers, costumes and food for the children.

Monarch Children’s Justice & Advocacy Center (MCJAC) — This center is a resource for sexually abused children. Monarch works in conjunction with partner agencies to offer a wide range of services at no cost to victims, including investigation of abuse, therapeutic intervention for the child and family, education and prevention programs and advocacy services. JLO has assisted Monarch with their annual benefit concert, with trained volunteers to assist with the siblings of abused children while services are being provided for the family, providing a mural in their new building, providing care kits for the children using the services, decorating, painting and supplying the children’s waiting room with furniture, toys, games and books.

Junior League of Olympia Legacy Scholarship — This endowed scholarship fund awards students scholarships to South Puget Sound Community College with a preference towards students who were or are in foster care programs.

Decatur Woods Playground Project — This collaboration with the City of Olympia, built a playground in a transitional neighborhood.

Teens with Tots Program — This program was established in 1998. It was a collaboration which provided parenting classes for teenage parents, and care for their young children while classes were offered. This program was transitioned to the Hands On Children's Museum in fall 2001.

The Volunteer Center of Thurston County — This center was established in 1991, and it eventually grew large enough to be transitioned to the Thurston-Mason Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Woman to Woman — This program was established in 1989, as a three year public awareness and education campaign on the use and effects of alcohol on women and to prevent the development of alcoholism in women at risk.

Focus on the Children — This was a one-year project for 1999-2000. JLO underwrote the parent education/workshop training materials and provided other support for this project to help homeless parents and their children.

Safeplace Open House — In 1996-97, JLO hosted open house events at Safeplace Rape Relief and Shelter Services to educate the community about domestic abuse as well as the programs and services offered by Safeplace. The League continues to support Safeplace through Community Assistance grants and small projects.