Jack and Jill of America: Gary/NW Indiana Chapter

Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated
Gary/ NW Indiana Chapter
November 2020

Virtual Holiday Celebration In this Issue

Saturday, President’s Message
December 5, 2020
Page 2
5:00-7:00
COVID-19 Update
Join the Holiday Party Committee for a
Virtual Family Event. Get your Holiday Page 3
Pajamas, your fun Holiday accessories and
join us via zoom for a fun filled night with Community Service

activities for the entire family! Page 4-5

JJ Votes

Page 6-7

Teen Updates

Page 8-9

Heart Health

Page 10

Jingle Jangle

Pahe 11

Mother Member Spotlight
Pahe 12-13

Paint and Sip
Pahe 14-15

President’s
Message

Happy Holidays

Greetings Gary/Northwest Indiana Chapter Members:

The holidays are upon us and so is the season of expressing our genuine
heartfelt giving in the spirit of Jack and Jill. Each holiday season I become more
amazed at how our chapter continues to give back to our local community and most
importantly being a blessing to families in need. I know this year will be no different
as your generous donations will benefit the Sojourner Truth House and the Rainbow
Shelter. Special thank you to the Holiday Committee and Foundation Committee
for coordinating this service initiative on behalf of our chapter.

Let us remember each of our sister moms during this holiday
season. While this is a joyous time of year, we may never know what some of our
members could be experiencing. Throughout 2020, Covid-19 has changed our way
of life, and is now forcing us to change how we would normally celebrate the
holidays. Please keep each of our sister moms in your thoughts and prayers, and I
encourage you to check in on someone. A thoughtful phone call or text message can
make someone’s day a little brighter!

Thanks to each of you, our program year is off to a great start. For those
planning grade group activities for our return in January, please be sure to read
through the Covid-19 Guidelines provided by the National Executive Board. As a
chapter, we will follow our state and local guidelines and adhere to Jack and Jill
guidelines as we continue to navigate this pandemic. Please bring any questions or
concerns to the executive board.

On behalf of the executive committee, we wish you and your families a
wonderful holiday season.

President Neal

UPDATE

COVID-19 Programming Reminders:

The minimum requirements to engage in Jack and Jill of America,
Inc. activities regardless of state and local guidelines are:

● Mask worn at all times that covers nose and mouth
● Hand sanitizers present in sufficient quantity
● Children whose parents choose to opt out of an in-person activity

must be provided with an alternate way for them to participate
with comparable quality
● Children requiring special accommodations should be
considered during the activity planning
● Guests will not be permitted to attend in-person activities.
Participants must include enrolled members, associates, fathers,
children and teens of Jack and Jill.
● Chapters should fully discuss and decide when and where to
engage in in-person activities
● Medical liability form and code of conduct must be signed
● No need to hold an in-person ceremony if a virtual ceremony has
already taken place



In October, the Foundation Committee led the chapter in
completing two service projects. First, we met to stuff 100 duffle
bags with needed items for foster children. Then, we led our teens
as they both set-up and participated in the Community Healthnet
Annual Breast Cancer Walk. While there, the teens were also able
to put their legislative passions into action. They passed out flyers
with information on early voting polls throughout Lake County.

Care for Caregivers
The Foundation Committee will be recognizing Caregivers for the
Month of November. They will be dropping off cards and Hershey
kisses to local caregivers as a way to recognize the thankless work

they do for their loved ones. If a caregiver lives out of town the
cards will be mailed.

Christmas Card Drive
During the month of December, the Foundation Committee will be
mailing Christmas cards to those whom we know may live alone or
feel especially isolated during the pandemic. The cards will contain

a special message from our president along with information on
how to stay connected.

Contact Chair George at (219) 644-5993 to submit a caregiver for
this program.

Group 1 and 2
Rocked the Vote!

Watch their
YouTube Video

with the link
below

Jack and Jill of
America

CONGRATULATES
Vice President-
Elect KAMALA
HARRIS on this

historic election!!!

The Mid-Western
Region’s Teen Area
Work Day was help on

November 14,
2020. Our teens
participated in a
weekend of Virtual
Black Excellence!

From making
handmade exfoliating
soap and custom lip

balm, to a Kahoot!
edition of Black Card
Revoked, and a Lego
Challenge, the Area
Work Day presented a
New Gold Standard!

TEEN December 4,-
PROGRAM December 8

NEWS Double Good virtual fundraiser!
It’s 100% contactless and safe!
Collecting NOW!
The Teens created a Pop-Up
It’s time to clean out those Store to sell Double Good
closets if you haven’t already!
The Teens will be collecting gourmet popcorn! Prices range
gently used shoes and athletic from $16-$99. The popcorn is
shoes. Ask your family, friends,
award-winning and really
and post on social media. delicious!
We need to collect around 500
Event Code CVCHXV
shoes.
DOWNLOAD THE APP
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The Health Committee asked the entire
chapter (adults & children) to participate in

a 30-day heart healthy fitness challenge
for the month of October. The challenge
was easy and fun for the entire family as

we worked to become more healthy.

Over the next two months, please continue to
share HEART HEALTHY recipes or pictures of

dishes you make during the holiday.

An imaginary world comes to life in a holiday tale of an eccentric toymaker, his
adventurous granddaughter, and a magical invention that has the power to

change their lives forever. Our Jacks and Jills definitely enjoyed the movie and
so did their parents!

MOTHER
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT

Starting a new small
business only 3 months
before a pandemic was
not in mother member
Nakia’s business plan.
Nevertheless, Nakia’s
business has taken the

“new normal” and
created fun and

innovative ways for
people to still connect
and be creative. We are
so proud to celebrate the
1 Year Anniversary of
Busy Bees Pottery & Arts
Studio with you Nakia!

MOTHER
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT

Mother Member Charm
has been chosen as a

panelist for the Indiana
Special Education

Administrators Virtual
Assessment

Conference. Charm will
be the only panelist who
is representing her own

agency,
superPSYCHED, LLC.
We are so proud of you

Charm!

On November 20th the
Social Committee

hosted a Paint and Sip
event in conjunction
with Busy Bees Pottery

and Arts.

Moms and Prospective
New Moms were able to

participate in person,
with social distancing,

or virtually!

Everyone was provided with a wine
glass and paint. Then we let our

creative juices and our beverage of
choice flow.

The highlight of the night was the
Verzuz battles with a twist! Led by
Immediate Past President Walker, we

compared artists,, music styles,
movies, and athletes!

Whether you were in person or at
home, we can all agree a good time
was had by all! We also learned that
we have some budding artists in our
chapter and had a wonderful time

together!

Reminder:

Look out for the Regional RAP Up
Weekly newsletter email.

(This may go directly to spam or
Promotions folders.)

DATES TO REMEMBER:

November- February: Super Bowl of Caring
November 24: Mental Wellness for Mothers and Teens

December 4-8: Double Good virtual fundraiser!
December 5: Gary/NW Indiana Holiday Party

December 10: Virtual Career Fair
December 20: Home for the Holidays: A Jingle 'Jama Jam!

Jan 10: Up the Hll Art Digital Submissions due to Editor
Jan 16-18: MLK Day of Service Weekend
May 15: Regional Day of Service
June 4-6: Leadership Summit, Detroit

June 17-20: Teen Leadership Conference, Ohio State University
July 15-18: Mother’s Regional Conference, Puerto

SAVE THE DATE:

Mid-Western Region will be hosting the
2024 National Convention to be held in Minneapolis