The Jones County High School Junior Leadership Jones program recently dedicated a day to community service, partnering with Toys for Tots and Keep Jones Beautiful to make a positive impact in Jones County.
The program is overseen by the Jones County College and Career Academy Executive Director/Academy CEO, Lisa Collins, and Work-Based Learning & Youth Apprenticeship Program Coordinator, Lori Varnadoe.
Student Aaron Varnadoe explained the purpose of Junior Leadership Jones, an organization composed of seniors and juniors who must submit a resume and maintain an excellent grade point average to be selected to participate.
“Junior Leadership Jones is an amazing experience where students get to learn what it looks like to be a leader in our community. This is done through interaction with leaders at the local, regional, and state levels. We’ve learned that a true leader gives back to the community that supports them,” he said.
JLJ students put those lessons into action by working alongside Toys for Tots to create 101 Christmas requests for local Jones County families. The activity brought holiday cheer and gave students an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause.
Students later traveled to Haddock, where they teamed up with Keep Jones Beautiful to prepare for the annual Christmas Market. They planted flowers and picked up trash, helping beautify the area for the community event.
Varnadoe talked about what the community service meant to him and why it is so valuable for students.
“That is why we participated in Toys for Tots and Keep Jones Beautiful. This experience has been so fulfilling and so worthwhile. It really feels like we are making a difference now, and we are prepared to do it in the future as well,” he said.
Collins and Lori Varnadoe emphasized their appreciation for the community leaders who made these activities possible. They recognized Joy Carr, Coordinator for Jones County Family Connection, and Shana Backus, Operation Early Intervention Coordinator, for providing opportunities for students to serve.
Backus applauded the students for their commitment.
“We are always so thankful for JLJ and their partnership with Toys for Tots. The whole operation is volunteer based, and we wouldn’t be able to accomplish our mission each year without the help of our community. Seeing these young leaders step up and be a part of their community is a true blessing,” she said.
The leaders also expressed gratitude to Haley Watson, Executive Director of the Jones County Development Authority, for coordinating impactful projects that allowed students to engage with and give back to their community.
