Jaycees of Newberry

By Charity Meeler

The Newberry Junior Commerce was founded in 1955. The Junior Commerce, or Jaycees, is an international non-profit organization focused not only on service to our community, but also on individual growth and leadership development. Our mission: Providing development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.

The Jaycee Creed

We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life,

that the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations,

that economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise,

that government should be of laws rather than of men,

that earth’s great treasure lies in human personality, and that service to humanity is the best work of life.

The Newberry Jaycees strive to engage and bond young adults in the mission to grow as individuals and leaders in their community. The organization is open to anyone ages 21 to 40, who seeks to meet new people, improve their community and learn those skills that open the door for personal and leadership growth. For members, it can be fun, fulfilling, educational, impactful and a life-changing experience. It is an opportunity that all young people should

experience.

A few of our fundraising opportunities that go back into the community are parking cars at the Newberry Fair and the Ag Expo. Since 2018, we have hosted the Biergarten in Memorial Park at the annual Newberry Oktoberfest. Every year we have asked for donations from local businesses to support the Kid’s Christmas Shopping Spree and Shop With A Cop. We also host the Newberry Jaycees Christmas parade. Over the past several years, the Newberry Jaycees have come up with multiple service projects to go back into the community. In 2017, we hosted a book drive and donated those books to the Newberry County School District. Up until COVID, we hosted a Thanksgiving Basket Drive to support around 30 families in our community. We hope to bring this project back in the next year. The Newberry Jaycees partnered with the Newberry Moose Lodge #2211 in 2022 to host a community Easter Egg Hunt.

The Newberry Jaycees fundraise not only to support our local community but for our state-wide project, South Carolina Jaycees Camp Hope. Camp Hope is a summer camp for kids and adults with intellectual disabilities housed at the Clemson Outdoor Lab. One of our successful partnerships since 2018 has been with Newberry College Football to help raise funds for Camp Hope. The Ping-Pong Ball Drop proceeds were split between the football program and Camp Hope.

The organization meets at West Electric on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 7:00 pm. We welcome anyone who age 18 - 40 to come and join.

Pictures included show the Camp Hope Foundation charity fund that we raised with over $2000. The large group photo is of us at our Camp Hope retreat that we spent a Sunday with the campers. The 3rd picture features our Kid’s Shoppers Walk Shop With a Cop that received national attention.