These inspiring words were spoken at the October meeting of the Junior League of Greater Covington. While president Phoebe Whealdon hammered the gavel that night, there were many items of business as the women discussed plans for their upcoming league-produced cookbook, “Roux To Do.”

The quote perfectly summarizes the reason behind all of the business. The 140-plus women of the volunteer organization may have joined the group for different reasons, but their mission is the same: to promote volunteerism, and to improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

It’s hard to turn the pages of the newspaper or local magazines without seeing the smiling faces of the league’s dedicated members. The local organization, which began as the Greater Covington Junior Service League in 1977, is best known in its recent years for its annual Harvest Cup Polo Classic, which just took place in October. The event is always a huge success, as is the league’s popular Designer Showhouse fundraiser that brings together local interior designers, landscape architects and one lucky homeowner to produce an amazing display of creative design work. This year, the group is introducing two new projects to its already busy schedule. The First Annual Attic Sale will take place in late spring, and the long-awaited cookbook is set to hit the shelves next fall.

The group has a reputation for keeping the fun in their fundraising. There’s never a lack of Polo Patrons or ladies who flock to see the latest in home furnishings and design. But many who support the league’s projects don’t realize how the money raised is spent, and the direct way that the funds are funneled back into serving our community. The JLGC has trained, active volunteers who serve in many different community placements, as well as 49 provisional members who serve in additional mini-placements. The community placements are overseen by board member Lisa Blossman and an 18-member Community Advisory Board that represents a cross section of the area and meets quarterly to recognize community needs. The total amount of funds budgeted for the community this year is more than $51,000, and the members will volunteer over 12,000 hours of their time this year alone!

The following is a short summary of the league’s wonderful ongoing service to the West St. Tammany area. These women truly are changing lives with their gift of giving.

Habitat for Humanity

The Covington league has joined Habitat in its mission to eliminate substandard housing in our community. Last year, the JLGC gave Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West a grant of $30,000 that helped to build a home on Montgomery Street in Mandeville for the Aline Orkes family. The home was built entirely by women’s organizations, and was coined as “Women Building a Legacy.” As the women constructed the home, they got an education as well! Habitat provided the tools and the know-how, but it was the women who put their hammers to work, learning everything from framing, insulation and roofing to installing vinyl siding and windows. The members continue to work on other Habitat houses in the Mandeville area.

“It was wonderful to have all women on the project,” says head volunteer Karen Reich. “Some members even brought their daughters along to help!”

Program for the Elderly

The league recently adopted its elderly program in an effort to reach the aging in our community who have made our area such a special place to live. The program is designed to provide literary and cultural enrichment, intellectual stimulation, companionship and encouragement of fine motor skills to residents of both Christwood in Covington and Sutherlan Place in Mandeville.

“We enjoy holding regular bingo and other activities at night for the residents,” says head volunteer Cole Bird. “Since they are usually so involved during the day, it’s nice for us to offer them something at night.”

League members recently held an activity night to make fall wreaths for residents’ doors and hosted a not-so-scary Halloween party. This month, they will hold Christmas parties during which residents will be assisted with addressing their holiday greeting cards.

“We’ll play holiday music and serve spiced tea,” says Bird. “All the residents enjoy getting mail, and this is a fun way to help them out.”

Cole adds that she sometimes brings her three young children with her to volunteer at the facilities, which brings joy to the eyes of the elderly. “But I mostly enjoy just getting away from the kids and interacting with other adults,” she confesses. “They have so much to share, and they appreciate our visits so much.”

Career Closet

Low-income men and women are sometimes at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a new job or entering the workforce. It can be daunting to go into an interview when you feel self-conscious about your skills and your references - or the clothes on your back. That’s where the JLGC’s Career Closet program comes in.

Developed by league member Sue Osbon and directed by head volunteer Kellie Osbon, the program helps job seekers choose and assemble a wardrobe for the workplace. Last year, thirty women were served by the program. They received suits, dresses, pants, purses, shoes, and accessories.

“It’s a great feeling for these women to have that shopping experience and to try on clothes that make them feel good about themselves,” says Kellie Osbon. “And it’s great to be able to offer guidance and our endorsements.”

Modeled after the successful Dress for Success programs, Career Closet also hopes to provide skills for the workplace through 21st Century Success Principles, a work-readiness class offered at Pine View Middle School in Covington.

The JLGC has recently partnered with WIN, the Work Initiative Network, and the All Saints Thrift Store, a project of the Covington Food Bank. The collaboration hopes to reach even more needy men and women in the community than before.

Hope House

The Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House in Covington was established by a group of concerned citizens in 1994 as a non-profit organization to serve children who have been sexually or severely physically abused. At Hope House, a specially trained forensic interviewer videotapes disclosures with children so that their experience does not have to be repeated time and again to law enforcement officials. The videotapes are entered into evidence and are used by the district attorney’s office in the prosecution of the alleged perpetrators.

“It’s a special place designed to provide a child-friendly investigative interview environment that is both welcoming and non-threatening for the child victims,” says head volunteer Jennifer Brunning. League volunteers assist with the center’s newsletter, mailings and computer data input. The league offers monetary assistance as well, and has given a $30,000 community assistance grant to build a therapy room at the center.

This month, members will double as Santa’s elves as they collect and wrap donated gifts for a new Hope for the Holidays program. The gifts will be given to visiting children throughout the month in hopes that, through their difficult time, a ray of light may shine.

“Everyone deserves a little hope under the Christmas tree,” said Hope House executive director Dorothy Guilliot.

Head Start

Not many would question that the education of our youth is the key to our future success. The Head Start Program in Mandeville and Lacombe truly believes this assertion as it provides a free pre-school curriculum to ensure that success. Head Start offers critical educational experiences for kids, as well as education, health and nutrition services to families, as part of an early intervention program.

The league provides funds for the purpose of educational materials and equipment, and JLGC members visit weekly in a particular classroom to assist in everything from story time and meal serving to projects and help on the playground. The volunteers go through a rigorous training session before their visits begin. They all agree that their rewards are multiplied with each hour spent at the center.

“We’re role models for the kids,” says head volunteer Caroline Bauerschmidt. “They see these women donating their time to them, and caring about them.”

The Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education

Many parents are naãve enough to believe that fourth graders are clueless about drugs and alcohol. But the Junior League moms who provide the voices behind the PRIDE Puppeteers know differently. The puppet troupe travels to various middle schools bi-monthly to present an engaging show that deals with this all-important topic. After the shows, the women open up the floor for questions from the young students. They want other adults to know that this area’s kids are not immune to the problem.

“A lot of these kids are already dealing with peer pressure - friends trying to push them to try drugs already,” says head volunteer Theresa Robertson. She adds that some of the nine- and ten-year-olds know more about street language and uses than the well-trained volunteers do.

In addition to the puppet troupe, the League’s financial support is used to publish promotional materials, fund annual motivational speakers, and to pay for student scholarships to attend weeklong seminars.

The Parenting Center of
West St. Tammany

Pamphlets for the Parenting Center say that the organization provides education and support to parents of young children. While this may be true, it is definitely an understatement! The center is a Mecca for new moms and dads who have countless questions and concerns, as well as for seasoned parents who are looking for fun activities and child-rearing hints. Years ago, JLGC volunteers were instrumental in developing the concept for the Parenting Center, and they are still going strong.

As part of the center’s First Steps program, volunteers visit new mothers at both Lakeview and St. Tammany Parish Hospitals. During the visits, they provide educational materials, support and referrals for each mom’s needs. They go through a very thorough training, and are required to shadow visits with veteran volunteers before going out on their own.

“The program is in place primarily to prevent child abuse,” says head volunteer Dana McPhearson, “and the Parenting Center has seen a greater increase in membership among the women we contact.”

Southeast Louisiana Hospital Adolescent School

Not many people would volunteer to spend time with troubled teens. But this is exactly why league members are involved with Southeast Louisiana Hospital’s adolescent program.

“Our mission is to give of our time to show them that people in the community do care about them. This helps to build their self-esteem and in their rehabilitation,” says Lynn Hood, head volunteer.

The JLGC helps teach life skills through weekly visits and activities such as arts, crafts and games. Funds are also donated to provide program supplies and art scholarships. Because state money is not allocated for the kids’ field trips, direct funds from the league are used to enable visits to places such as the zoo and the aquarium.

This month, league members will continue their annual tradition of visiting the teens on Christmas Eve. Some of the children are left in the facility during the holidays, as they have no family to speak of, but the women make sure that they are not alone or without a gift from Santa.

Leaguers on Loan

The JLGC recognizes the wonderful efforts of the many other non-profit organizations in the community. As if their own projects were not enough to keep them busy, they also offer their assistance to those groups’ projects, as well. Leaguers on Loan provides short-term support at events such as PRIDE’s Red Ribbon Week, Trailhead Sunday Concerts, the Fais Do Do, the Monster Mash, Art in the Park, and various art openings, to name just a few.
“We’re out in the community helping others, and it requires a lot of work in scheduling,” says head volunteer Nicolle Hoy, “but we get to meet so many people while we’re helping out.”

This direct, temporary assistance from the league has proven to be remarkably beneficial to groups that, in turn, support the West St. Tammany community. And to that end, the ladies of the Junior League of Greater Covington will happily put on their volunteer caps to help.

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Copyright 2003, M&L Publishing, all rights reserved.