As we approach the season of Relay for Life, Team Frog and Junior Auxiliary have joined forces for their annual garage sale.

The garage sale will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Junior Auxiliary Canteen Building in Duncan Park.

Team Frog was started in 2012 in memory of Jessica Rogers Council, after a battle of rare form of thyroid cancer — anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Jessica was diagnosed the week of Thanksgiving in 2010 and lost her earthly battle on Feb. 8, 2011, at the age of 30 years old. She was also pregnant at the time and refused abortion, giving birth to Jessica Maried Council on Feb. 3, 2011, at  24 weeks. Baby Jessi through many struggles came home and later went on to be with her mother and Jesus at the age of 3 in April 2014.

While Jessica was in the hospital her theme was F.R.O.G. — Fully Rely on God, hence the name of Team F.R.O.G. in memory and honor of Jessica.

There is no known treatment for this form of cancer and it is the type of cancer that usually only 60 to 70 year old males get. This is the same form of cancer Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist died of.

Jessi was like my other big sister and one of my closest friends. Team F.R.O.G. is my way of paying tribute to the special bond of friendship the two of us shared while also raising awareness and funds needed to research a cure for cancer that takes shape in so many forms without prejudice.

One of my other passions near and dear to my heart is the Natchez Chapter Junior Auxiliary. I don’t think the community realizes the impact this small non-profit organization has in our area. The JA ladies work with many needy and underprivileged children by providing school supplies, uniforms, clothing, underclothes, shoes, coats, snacks, birthday and Christmas gifts, meals and food and so much to children, families and homes that may be doing without. Many times our ladies will go into their own pockets to see to it that someone else in need may have. Although there are only 11 of us as active members we are like a group of sisters with our President, Chassity Cannon, being the big, bossy sister. Recently, someone contacted Chassity and made her aware that there was a little girl that had turned 10 and there was no means to have a birthday celebration. Chassity called on all of the JA ladies, made several calls to other community leaders and friends of JA and before we knew it, she had a birthday celebration going on all to the surprise of one little girl.

We invite everyone in the community to come and shop our garage sale knowing that the funds we earn go towards the Miss-Lou Relay for Life which then goes to the American Cancer Society. All of the JA funds from the garage sale as well as the various fundraisers they have throughout the year remain in the our area to help these children in this area.

Come on out and support our event. Be sure to look for other events we are having over the next few months too. You can follow the local JA Chapter on Facebook at Junior Auxiliary of Natchez.
Sarah Allen

Team F.R.O.G. Team Captain

Junior Auxiliary Parliamentarian