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Junior Auxiliary of Houma is completing December service projects to make the holiday season great for as many local community members as possible! The local organization has continued their Santa Sneakers Project, and have added a new project with Hope Extreme in East Houma.
“Our Santa Sneakers project has been a Junior Auxiliary of Houma tradition for more than 30 years. Through this project, JAH provides hundreds of quality new tennis shoes for local children in need,” reads a statement from Katie Portier with Junior Auxiliary of Houma. “We also host a gathering where families can pick up their shoes, enjoy a meal and snacks, make Christmas crafts, write letters to Santa, and visit with Santa and Mrs. Clause. It’s always a beautiful day spreading a little Christmas magic. In 2023, we proudly gifted 280 pairs of shoes to local children.”
Portier continued, explaining, “This year, we also had a new service project which was to partner with Hope Extreme in East Houma and provide the children who attend their after school program (and their families) with a fun holiday party. With the goal of bringing a fun, interactive event that families could enjoy together, JAH provided Christmas crafts and activities, photos with Papa Noel and Mrs. Clause, snacks, a visit from Elf Cow (from Chick-Fil-A), and more!
“Papa Noel also provided a very excited reading of A Cajun Night Before Christmas, much to the delight of the children. Families also went home with everything they need to make a holiday meal including a frozen ham or turkey (and all the fixings!), a stocking full of goodies including a $50 Rouses gift card. The students in the aftercare program also received a new pair of shoes in conjunction with our Santa Sneakers project.”
As JAH celebrates our 50th anniversary, members proud to continue the legacy of the hundreds of women that have served our community before us.
“For me personally, these two events have been incredibly rewarding to be a part of. I absolutely love seeing their little faces light up when they see Santa and Mrs. Clause especially,” says Portier. “It’s always great to see families coming enjoying these little moments together and to know that JAH has a part in creating a little Christmas magic for them is just incredible.”
