JA PROJECT

Members of the Best Foot Forward Committee gather with excitement to receive a shipment of footwear from their project ’ s partner , Soles 4 Souls .

Best Foot Forward is Junior Auxiliary of Columbus ’ newest project and provides local children in need with quality footwear as a supplement to the existing clothing program the chapter has provided the community since its official inception in 1943 . All students will now receive shoes through the chapter ’ s current In-Depth , Clothing , and Clothes-to- Go welfare projects .

Through this new project , Junior Auxiliary of

Columbus has partnered with the national non-profit Soles 4 Souls , which serves as the supplier of footwear for this project . Soles 4 Souls has provided a donation to the chapter through their 4EveryKid program , which aims to help children in the direst of circumstances .

The Best Foot Forward committee launched this project with a kick-off event in Spring of 2023 . They worked with New Hope Elementary School ,

New Hope Middle School , and Caledonia Elementary School to provide students with a new pair of shoes and a frisbee or ball for the summertime to encourage them to get outside and play .

This year , they have given shoes to over 250 students . “ This project centers around the core mission of the Junior Auxiliary organization ,” said Life Member and Parliamentarian of the Provisional class of 2022-2023 who

Chaney Fair and Brittney Harrison radiate joy at the Best Foot Forward Kickoff Event . implemented Best Foot Forward , Mary Tana Garner . “ Just like the other current clothing projects , Best Foot Forward aims to promote a more positive self-image by helping children feel more confident in their daily lives . I can ’ t think of a better way to commemorate our 80 years of service than by implementing a program that complements the one project that has been the backbone of this organization since its very beginning .”