THE IMPACTS OF CHRISTMAS JUBILEE

BY: CONTINA WOODS

As costs continue to rise, the need for JLM’s largest fundraiser is more critical than ever. “So many people in our community rely on this event,” said JLM Board Member and former Christmas Jubilee Chair, Julia Fleming. Christmas Jubilee’s impact is felt throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties from providing services to children to providing leadership training to members, supporting local businesses, and fostering community partnerships.

Christmas Jubilee is instrumental in funding the JLM Mission, which includes improving the Mobile and Baldwin County communities. “Christmas Jubilee allows people to get that break without compromising their basic needs,” said Mary Katherine Hudson, 2022 Christmas Jubilee Chair. And our communities recognize the impact that Christmas Jubilee has and give back in return; in fact, the League has been able to grow sponsorships by more than 50% this year.

Local businesses are one of the key drivers of a successful market. These businesses provide Christmas trees, storage, sponsorships and other in-kind donations. For those businesses without brick and mortar, Christmas Jubilee provides an experience where small businesses are able to reach audiences they would not have otherwise.

Christmas Jubilee is also a time where members are able to grow and showcase their talents. “It’s more than a market. It’s more than a fundraiser. We are creating leaders,” said Fleming. From marketing and networking to finance and logistics, this event takes nearly all members volunteering to create a mall in a day, she said. Not only is a lot of teamwork and bonding occurring, perseverance and endurance are tested as well.

“I never worked so hard in my life.” Although Julia is a lawyer by trade, she has learned new skills as a volunteer, including graphic design and logistics.

Christmas Jubilee continues to reinvent itself as shoppers and vendor preferences change. This year’s event kicked off on Veterans Day, so shoppers were able to bring the whole family along! Military discounts were given to service members, and there was more in store for children at Santa’s Corner, including a drive-thru car wash sponsored by Rich’s Car Wash, for kids to enjoy on bikes. The market was a huge success, with the committee exceeding their fundraising goal and delivering another memorable experience for everyone in attendance!

How often have you heard the phrase, “You can have it all” and wondered how you can achieve it? We are told you can have the dream career, the dream family, the happiness, and so much more, but with each of those numerous and sizable life goals the work/life balance gets harder to juggle.

As a working mom, it can be incredibly frustrating to open your email or social media and see the aesthetically pleasing farmhouse style home with not one thing out of place, the bento box perfect lunches for daycare, or the Instagram Outfit of the Day (OOTD) that manages to stay clean as a mom works from home and juggles a full day of parenting.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor once said, “Don’t let fear stop you. Don’t give up because you are paralyzed by insecurity or overwhelmed by the odds, because in giving up, you give up hope. Understand that failure is a process in life, that only in trying can you enrich yourself and have the