Each year, Junior League of Lafayette invites other nonprofits to submit grant proposals. Through these grants, the League provides financial funding and trained volunteers to help complete short-term projects that align with our Mission and focus areas—collaboration for lasting community change, the health and development of women and children, and women’s leadership.
The Collaborative Opportunity Grants Committee is excited to announce the following projects have been selected for fulfillment during the 2022-23 League year. Thank you to all organizations that applied this cycle and everyone who participated in selecting these 16 projects!
Collaborative Day Projects ($14,800)
United Way of Acadiana / Day of Thanksgiving ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will collaborate with United Way to distribute food baskets to families United Way supports. Grant funds are used to purchase turkeys and other food items needed for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. JLL volunteers will help with purchasing items, sorting, and packaging food for distribution. On the day of the event, volunteers will have the chance to meet and greet the families served.
Second Harvest Food Bank / School Pantry Program food tasting event ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will help coordinate a food tasting event at Scott Middle. Volunteers will share food samples with the students and handout nutritional information and recipes at the event. Volunteers are also invited to share family recipes, too.
New Hope Community Development of Acadiana / Spring Party ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will assist with facilitating the New Hope Spring Store and Spring party for students who participate in the after-school tutoring program. These students earn New Hope Dollars by doing their homework, extra work, and exercising self-discipline. During the New Hope Spring Store, students can spend their New Hope Dollars and are encouraged to purchase gifts for their family, teachers, and friends, along with a special gift for themselves. Volunteers will assist with purchasing items for the store and serving as shopping assistants, as well as planning games and purchasing food for the Spring Party.
Healing House / Coping Kits for children ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will provide Coping Kits to children who have experienced the recent death of someone significant in their lives. The kits include art supplies, grief journals, and a book on grief. The volunteers will help purchase kit supplies, assemble the kits, then deliver the completed kits to agencies, hospitals, funeral homes, and hospice organizations.
The RescYOU Group / Bereavement Boxes ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will purchase supplies for bereavement boxes that are given to families that lose a child age 1 to 17, or 18 if still in high school. Their number one goal is to support those who have lost a child, while also raising awareness for all families to lessen the number of preventable child death.
Beacon / Latin Festival ($800)
Junior League of Lafayette volunteers will help with the purchasing and distribution of lap desks and desk lamps for the youth at the resource fair in the fall of 2022. Many families attending this event do not have designated space for children to complete homework. These items are intended to connect with and support the Spanish-speaking community.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana / Pantry ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will provide a snack pantry for club members at the two Lafayette clubs, the Granberry and Jackie units. While at the club, the volunteers will set up and distribute snacks and educate club members about Junior League and its Mission.
Acadiana Outreach Center / Outdoor Fun and Celebrations ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will assist in the purchase of a fun jump/bounce castle along with a small prefab storage building and other party supplies for use during the weekends and for celebrating the birthdays of children who are living at the shelter.
Collaborative Night Projects ($15,000)
DREAMS Foundation of Acadiana / Mardi Gras Ball ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette volunteers will help host a Mardi Gras Ball in 2023 for special needs individuals. This will give them a chance to experience being on a Mardi Gras court. Members will help with planning the event, decorations, food prep, food servers, and serve as supervisors for other DREAMS volunteers who will also be helping at the event.
Girl Scouts / Snore-n-roar ($1,500)
Junior League of Lafayette will help with purchasing an all-day access to Zoosiana including activities for the girls to learn about the animals of the zoo, including their care, meals, and habitats. Volunteers will help set up the day of the event and check girls in as they arrive.
Lafayette 4-H Foundation / School Garden cook-off ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will help with the annual school garden cook-off held in early spring. The goal is to provide youth participants hands-on cooking experiences using vegetables grown from their school gardens and/or local produce and gain knowledge of healthy food choices.
Girls on the Run / Girls on the Run 5K ($1,500)
Junior League of Lafayette will fund activities for the 5K Inspiration Village, finish line medals for all participants, and post-5K food. JLL volunteers will help with activities at the Inspiration Village before the race and hand out medals when the girls finish their race. The volunteers will also help serve food.
Habitat for Humanity / Women Build 2022 ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will help with the construction of a home. Grant funds will go toward purchasing materials for the Women Build home. Habitat will coordinate a build day specifically for JLL volunteers to work on the home and meet the future homeowner. The Women Build initiative provides a hands-on opportunity for women to confront the challenges of affordable housing in Acadiana.
The Clearport Learning Center / Girl’s Night ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will assist The Clearport Learning Center’s mentoring program in putting on their Girl’s Night in March. Girl’s Night is part of the organization's mentorship program that focuses on providing girls with the opportunity to engage in discussions and mentorship with women community leaders. JLL volunteers will make two shopping trips for two events, attend the event, help serve the meal, and help with two activity stations.
Miles Perret Cancer Services / Treatment Care Kits ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will assist with assembling and labeling care kits to help clients minimize skin and oral side effects of chemotherapy and/or radiation. Cancer patients in treatment often experience side effects like mouth sores, dry skin, and dehydration. Grant funds would go toward purchasing supplies.
Autism Society of Acadiana / Silent Disco Masquerade Ball ($2,000)
Junior League of Lafayette will help with hosting a Halloween event for the tween to adult members at Rock-n-Bowl. The event’s music will be channeled through Dohm Collective's individual Bluetooth headsets and will provide a social opportunity for our young adult members who do not typically get to participate in social events due to sensory challenges.