Fifty-eight years ago today, a few young men came together to form the Jonesboro Jaycees, now the longest continually chartered Jaycee chapter in Arkansas. In our 58 years, we’ve managed to accomplish some great things for Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas. The Jaycees started or helped to start…

• The Miss Jonesboro Pageant
• The Northeast Arkansas District Fair
• Mighty League Baseball
• Craighead Forest Park and the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Jonesboro
• Abilities Unlimited

The Jaycees sponsor the Jonesboro Christmas Parade, manage the Goodfellows Project, and run Christmas for Kids. Goodfellows provides up to a week’s worth of food for local underprivileged families and Christmas for Kids gives toys to local children who might not get any other Christmas. The Jaycees gave Jonesboro its first street signs and provided the seed money for a new, advanced tornado warning system when the city was in dire need of one. The Jaycees also provided natural gas detectors for local schools after a series of explosions across the country set parents and faculty on edge.

The Jonesboro Jaycees have been doing great things for nearly sixty years and hope to continue for another sixty years. Take a look at the Past Presidents page and the Hall of Honor page for a list of the people who helped to make the Jaycees what it is today.

While sorting through boxes today, I discovered a copy of the book of letters from past presidents that was compiled to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Jonesboro Jaycees. It’s a wonderful recounting of the history of the chapter and all of the wonderful things that we accomplished in the first 40 years of our existence.

I’ve scanned and uploaded the book so that everyone can give it a read and learn about our past and be inspired for the future.

Happy New Years, everybody!

In Jaycee Spirit,

Jeff Taylor
62nd President

40th Anniversary Book of Letters (PDF, 28MB)

Work is underway for Goodfellows and Christmas for Kids. As of last week, applications were available for pickup from the following organizations:

Craighead County Health Unit
611 East Washington Ave
Jonesboro, AR 72401
870-933-4585

Arkansas Workforce Center
2311 East Nettleton Ave
Jonesboro, AR 72401
870-910-8129

Paces, Inc.
2917 King Street
Jonesboro, AR 72401
870-932-1166

Jonesboro Urban Renewal and Housing Authority
330 Union Street
Jonesboro, AR 72401
870-935-9800

East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging
2005 East Highland Drive
Jonesboro, AR 72401
870-972-5980

St. Bernards Senior Life Center
900 West Monroe Ave
Jonesboro AR 72401
870-935-7282

All applications must be received by November 30, 2009 to ensure inclusion into the programs.

Distribution of food and toys will take place on December 19, 2009 at the Northeast Arkansas District Fairgrounds. Families accepted into the program will receive a letter in the mail prior to the distribution telling them when to arrive. They must bring the letter and a photo ID to the Fairgrounds in order to receive their food and toys.

Please send any questions to us via the Contact page.