Junior League of Norfolk Virginia Beach, Inc. has been positively impacting the local community for over 90 years. We provide trained volunteers for local projects as well as financial support for organizations in need.

We annually focus our support on a diverse group of programs to address the needs of our community in an effort to effectively impact as many organizations as possible. The variety of programs also helps engage our League members by providing a wide range of volunteer opportunities.

Community Programs

PROJECT MAKEOVER HAMPTON ROADS  / ELEVATE TO EDUCATE:

In order to make a large scale impact on children’s literacy, we transformed Jacox Elementary School over the weekend of August 17th-19th, 2018 with the support of tHRive Young Professionals and the Urban Renewal Center. Over 320 volunteers created a more dynamic learning environment for elementary students in Hampton Roads by revitalizing landscaping, updating hallways with more than 35 educational murals, changing up the playground, sprucing up the principal’s office, teacher’s lounge, and more! The Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach also incorporated women’s health by designing body-positive message on each of the bathroom stalls. Under the leadership of our Community Events Committee, attendees:

• Painted 35 wall murals covering 1152 square feet
• Painted 2866 square feet of outdoor space
• Redecorated 28 bathroom stall doors
• Installed a 270 foot butterfly garden with 100 plants and 9 garden boxes
• Installed 251 other plants around building for new landscaping
• Collected over 30 bags of litter

We are proud to announce that we will continue and expand upon this initiative, initially known as Project Makeover Hampton Roads, in 2019-2020 with the new name, Elevate to Educate!

LITTLE HANDS, BIG DIFFERENCE:

In support of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach hosted its largest-ever Little Hands, Big Difference on November 19, 2018, at The Williams School Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA. This family fun day is dedicated to teaching children the importance of volunteering, giving thanks, and the importance of reading. All activities focused on giving back to those in our community that was in need during this holiday season. Under the leadership of our Children’s Initiatives Committee, attendees:

• Designed 146 bookmarks
• Created 18 sundresses
• Made 75 “Way to Go” waters
• Made 138 beads of courage
• Painted 120 kindness rocks
• Sorted 1705 lbs of food which provides 2,046 meals
• Made 9 no-sew blankets
• Packed 28 birthday boxes
• Mixed 83 friendship snacks
• Assembled 90 NICU bags

KING’S DAUGHTERS MILK BANK at CHKD:

Members of the JLNVB support Saturday drop-offs for mothers donating valuable breast milk in support of the King’s Daughters Milk Bank at CHKD. Due to the popularity and increasing demand by donors, we have expanded our outreach to a second collection site in Virginia Beach. Our members are now collecting milk donations every weekend at either the Main Children’s Hospital in Norfolk or at General Booth Pediatrics in Virginia Beach. Due to our increased participation, we have trained more than 20 new volunteers this fall to support our Milk Bank initiative. To date, we have collected 18,896 ounces!

UNION MISSION LITERACY PROGRAM:

Twice a month JLNVB partners with the Union Mission’s family shelter to develop a reading program for children under 12. JLNVB members read aloud with children, help them create activity sheets and play literacy-focused games with the children. Every child who attends also receives a book to keep!

NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER PORTSMOUTH PEDIATRIC CLINIC:

This summer we started incorporating our focus on Women’s Health by donating NICU care packages to provide support for the new parents during this difficult time. The care packages are hand-delivered to the NICU unit by our members and they include toiletries, a notebook with a pen, and a receiving blanket. Each care package also includes a children’s book for the parents to read to their child.

LITTLE BLACK DRESS INITIATIVE

Founded in 2014 by the Junior League of London, the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) is a week-long awareness and fundraising campaign that harnesses the power of social media and doing something “a little different” in order to educate people about local issues that Leagues work on in their communities.

During the Little Black Dress Initiative, members of the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach will wear the same black dress (or outfit) for five consecutive days to raise awareness about period poverty and to raise funds to provide period packs to girls in local public schools. By wearing a button that reads “Ask Me About My Dress,” they invite dialogue among colleagues, friends, and strangers to raise awareness about period poverty in South Hampton Roads.