The National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA) is a non-profit organization that was founded on November 14, 1941,
by a gathering of 100 women from 10 towns in the states of Arkansas and Mississippi. These women had been serving in their respective communities in the care and welfare of underprivileged children and in civic endeavors dealing with the severe poverty and suffering caused by the depression. Their goal was to unite in order to form a national organization to strengthen and inspire others through their union. That first gathering of 100 women has grown into 95 active chapters with over 13,500 women, including provisional, active, life and associate members in the 8 southern states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Visit the NAJA website to learn more.
The national symbol for all Junior Auxiliaries is the five point crown. Each of the points on the crown are equal and represent a different aspect of Junior Auxiliary: Charity, Youth, Health, Service and Leadership. As members we strive to uphold all of those ideals in everything we do. Through upholding those ideals and our Care Today, we hope to be building Character Tomorrow.
Our local chapter, Junior Auxiliary of Biloxi-Ocean Springs, was founded in 1967 and through its membership,
implements several community-based programs.
The mission of the Junior Auxiliary of Biloxi-Ocean Springs is to improve the community by meeting the physical,
medical, financial, and educational needs of the children, youth, and families in our service area.
Our service area is defined as the communities of Biloxi, D’Iberville, St. Martin, Woolmarket, Ocean Springs,
and Vancleave, or otherwise the areas that lie within the East Harrison County and West Jackson Counties.
Junior Auxiliary provides its charitable services without regard to race or ethnic background, which are beneficial
to the general public, with particular emphasis on children, and to cooperate with other organizations performing
similar services. We primarily focus all of our programs toward school aged children ages 5-18.
Each of our monthly Junior Auxiliary chapter meetings begin with the unison recital of the Junior Auxiliary prayer. This is not just a ceremonial gesture on our part. It is something that we take to heart as we sincerely ask for blessings to guide us in our endeavors.
Send us, O’ God, as Thy messengers to the hearts without a home, to lives without love, to the crowds without a guide. Send us to the children whom none have blessed, to the famished whom none have visited, to the fallen whom none have lifted; to the bereaved whom none have comforted.
Kindle Thy flame on the altars of our hearts, that others may be warmed thereby; cause Thy light to shine in our souls, that others may see the way; keep our sympathies and insight ready, our wills keen, our hands quick to help others in their need.
Grant us clear vision, true judgement, with great daring as we seek to right the wrong; and so endow us with cheerful love that
we may minister to the suffering and forlorn even as Thou wouldst. May the blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, rest upon us and upon all our work. May he give us light to guide us, courage to support us, and love to
unite us, now and forever more.
Amen