The Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) is celebrating its 90th birthday in 2015. While the organization has seen many changes over the years, one constant remains: “Our mission has not changed – we train members to be better volunteers,” said JLNO President Katherine Kleinpeter Raymond.
In honor of JLNO’s years of service, here’s a quick profile of the organization’s many programs:
Diaper Bank
JLNO’s newest program addresses a need that’s often overlooked: diapers. They aren’t covered by government assistance, so mothers in need often have difficulty covering the out-of-pocket costs. Furthermore, the psychological stress of going without necessities such as diapers can negatively impact an entire family.
JLNO created the Diaper Bank to help these families in need, and the response has been tremendous. More than 21,000 diapers were collected in its first month, thanks to diaper drives at schools and other organizations. JLNO hopes to collect 90,000 diapers by the year’s end, and the program welcomes diaper or cash donations.
Bloomin’ Deals
The Bloomin’ Deals Thrift Shop has been a Freret Street anchor since the 1960s, and the shop has an exciting new feature: a bridal boutique. The boutique has new (and gently used) bridal and formal wear, providing affordable apparel for weddings, proms and special events.
Major Fundraisers:
JLNO has many fundraisers. For instance, the Freret 5K road race encourages youth runners. The Buy, Save, and Serve savings card provides discounts at a variety of local businesses, and the “Touch a Truck” event encourages children to learn about construction and emergency responder vehicles.
On May 2, JLNO’s 10th annual “Kitchen Tour” will feature the “Kitchen of the Year” presentation from House Beautiful magazine.
Get on Board
By providing information about the commitment and responsibilities involved, this program trains people to be great board members. Also, nonprofits can then be matched with these trained board members.
Partnerships
JLNO has collaborated with the Idea Village for “Entrepreneur Week 2015.” The goal is to encourage more women to pitch business ideas. Past collaboration events have featured success stories from local professional women, as well as information on networking.
Experiential Training
In addition, JLNO provides opportunities for training sessions in a variety of fields. Raymond, who’s an engineer by trade, learned about magazine editing and attended conferences on media training. Such skills are often transferrable to the workplace or other volunteer organizations.
Get Involved
Donations to the thrift shop, bridal boutique and Diaper Bank are always appreciated. In addition, JLNO encourages partnerships with other local organizations. New members are welcomed and encouraged to review the JLNO website.
For more information on the Junior League of New Orleans, call 891-5845 or visit JLNO.org.
