Junior Women's League Presents Annual Big Night Out Gala

Smithfield, N.C. - The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield will host its inaugural Big Night Out Gala benefiting ReEntry Family Services and JWL’s Johnston County Blessing Boxes on Saturday, May 21st beginning at 7 p.m. at The Farm at 95. 

“The Big Night Out committee is working hard to plan a memorable event after having to pivot the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Our hopes are to gather everyone together for a night of celebration that creates a measurable impact on our community,” states Dana Peterson, Big Night Out Committee Co-Chair. “A night filled with dancing, food and entertainment; what better way to raise money for a deserving organization,” adds Heather Bryant, Junior Women’s League of Smithfield’s Recording Secretary and Big Night Out Committee Co-Chair.

In 2019, 12.2% of the people living in Johnston County were food insecure. Currently the projected overall food insecurity rate of Johnston County residents is 13.5%, in part as a result of COVID-19. For these families, children, and elderly neighbors of ours, ‘experiencing Food Insecurity’ means not always having daily meals, or not knowing where their next meal will come from. That is why the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield remains steadfast in its fight to end hunger and positively impact the lives of Johnston County's citizens through our Blessing Box program, small pantries located at fire departments throughout the county that are stocked with free food and personal care items for people in need. 

ReEntry Family Services is a small nonprofit that began serving Johnston County families in 1998. They serve 60 families a week, providing a minimum of 90 minutes of service for programs such as the Family Pride parenting program, HALT domestic violence prevention program, and the Healthy Choices youth program. ReEntry is looking to add to their list of programs by adding the TND Project “Toward No Drugs”. TND is a substance abuse program for teens that focuses on character building and providing life skills, while lessening substance abuse, deterring interaction with the court system and helping them succeed in school. It is ReEntry’s hope that teaching our youth these life skills will help them become successful individuals in our community.

It is for all of these reasons that the proceeds of the 2022 Big Night Out will support both JWL’s Blessing Box program and ReEntry’s Towards No Drugs project. The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield will use proceeds from Big Night Out to stock each of their ten Blessing Boxes monthly throughout the next service year. Also, a portion of the proceeds will be given to ReEntry to provide class materials for their TND project.

The ticketed event will include heavy hors d'oeuvres, dancing, beverages, premier raffle items, and live music by the North Tower Band. Raffle items will include an 18kt white gold ring with an emerald center stone surrounded by diamonds donated by Evans Jewelers among other unique items. Tickets are $65 each and are on sale now and can be purchased at www.jwlsmithfield.com/big-night-out.  

The Junior Women's League of Smithfield is also seeking sponsors for this event.  For more information about Big Night Out, or to inquire about tickets or sponsorships, visit www.jwlsmithfield.com.

About the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield: 

The Junior Women's League of Smithfield (JWL) is a non-profit organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action of trained volunteers. Our organization was founded in Smithfield, but is dedicated to the betterment of all communities within Johnston County.  Since the League’s establishment in February 2016, JWL has awarded over $127,000 in Community Impact Grants to Johnston County nonprofit organizations and $3,000 in Student Scholarships, and completed more than 13,600 hours of community service.  

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