The Junior League of Mobile hosts the 42nd annual Christmas Jubilee, a three-day holiday market, to raise funds for their community assistance programs from Friday, November 13th to Sunday, November 15th at the Mobile Convention Center.
The Junior League of Mobile contributes about one million dollars to the community annually between funds and the value of volunteer services. By putting together shoppers, local vendors, donors, sponsors, and Junior League volunteers, the Christmas Jubilee weighs in about a third of the organization’s annual contribution to the Mobile community, according to Shannon Harris, president of the Mobile Junior League.
“Those three days of that fabulous holiday market funds our entire year doing our community outreach,” said Harris.
According to Harris, the Christmas Jubilee began as a fundraiser in 1985 and over the past 42 years has grown into a massive shopping event for the Gulf Coast communities.
“I think it’s a great event, I think families come – mothers, daughters, grandchildren – they come every year, shop, we have some that come and buy an ornament from us every single year,” said Colleen Blackwell, a sustainer in the Junior League as well as a vendor at the Jubilee for the past 30 years.
She runs ‘The Visitation Shop,’ a non-profit raising funds for the Sisters of the Visitation. “What they [Junior League of Mobile] do for the community is huge. People see this side of it, but they do a lot of other things, too,” said Blackwell.
The Junior League’s history of community service dates back to 1925, when it was called the ‘Mobile Charity League’ before joining the Association of Junior League in 1931. “There are almost 300 leagues internationally, and, by size, we are ranked number 15,” said Harris.
Some regular community programs funded and/or founded by the League include the Adopt-A-School Program, Diaper Bank, Food Pantry at Central, and more.
“We are an organization of women that promote leadership internally and externally, so we train these ladies in the Junior League and then they can go out into the community and be leaders there also,” said Harris. “Our impact is women and children’s health and wellbeing, and the needs of our community is constantly changing, so we do adapt.”
The event ends on Sunday, November 15th at 5:00pm. General admission tickets start at $15 at the door with some special early-shopper and V.I.P experiences available.
Harris says the Junior League of Mobile is always open to donors, sponsors, and new members. “We will have a booth down there actually, a Junior League booth, and if they want more information on the Junior League or how to donate or how to become a member and serve your community, we would be very excited to speak to anybody who is interested,” she said.