Back to School Vessel is a faith-based initiative intended to provide mentoring and support for school-aged students. Volunteers provide school supplies, books, clothes, and other needs for students.
Big Buck’s Motorcycle Club consists of avid motorcyclists that have participated in several competitions and bike shows, receiving more than 30 trophies. The membership may include street riders, dirt riders, and amateur or professional riders. The club has participated in charitable events including fall festivals, homecoming parades and other organized rides.
The Boy’s and Girl’s Club MVSU Unit is a “positive place for kids” in which they can develop solid leadership skills as well as participate in program that include activities such as art, music poetry, dance, baseball, chess, games and field trips. For more information contact the unit director, Benjamin Nance, at (662) 254-0101 or visit: The Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Delta’s website: http://bgcmsdelta.org/index.html.
The Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America’s mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling a concrete set of values identified in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. The Itta Bena scout troops participate in various leadership workshops and community service projects. The meetings are held at Samuel Chapel United Methodist Church. The troop leaders are Gladys Fant and Nicole Jackson. For more information on the Cut Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, visit their website: http://www.scouting.org/.
Itta Bena Community Outreach Committee has spearheaded several programs such as health fairs (health fair theme is “Keep it Simple – Start”), healthy eating and weight loss contests, walking and exercise programs, food drives, clothing drives, blood drives, and the Itta Bena Fall Festival. The committee has been forging successful partnerships with other institutions, organizations, and individuals. The current president is Mabel Robinson.
Itta Bena Senior’s Lunch Club is sponsored through the North Central Planning and Development district in Wynona. The program provides lunch to 24 seniors (60 years of age and over) on Monday thru Friday for only a quarter. The MVSU transports each resident to and from the Community House. The group engages in various activities such as arts and crafts, tree planning ceremonies, senior’s day in Wynona, monthly birthday celebrations, Christmas gift exchange, and participation in MVSU’s homecoming and Christmas parades. For more information or to donate household products, email Ola Hawkins: ohlastone@aol.com.
Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council is an initiative with the National League of Cities intended to empower youth to become active members in the community by encouraging their involvement in local government and community based activities. The council is comprised mostly of Itta Bena youth from grades 7 – 12 and is also designed to expose them to other high school students and link them with college student mentors. The MYAC participated in a weekend youth retreat at Jackson State. For more information, contact Mayor Collins.
Meals-on-Wheels is also sponsored through the North Central Planning and Development district. The program provides 65 hot meals to the homes of Itta Bena seniors or residents over 40 years of age with Medicaid waivers that are immobile or ill. For more information contact Dorothy Mixon at: (662) 254-9861
Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance provides training and technical support to individuals and businesses. The alliance has successfully assisted the city in securing the rural housing grant that would provide training for individuals in home buying, credit counseling and other housing fairs. The organization meets once on month on Saturdays. For more information, contact (662) 254-9957 or visit www.mdeza.org.
Ministerial Alliance is established as an alliance of several faith-based and community-based organizations to better serve citizens of Itta Bena and surrounding areas in the Delta and state. The alliance holds monthly breakfast meetings in the Community House to discuss various approaches and resources can be used to help clergy developing advocacy programs to help youth, families and the overall.
Rotary Club is a service and fellowship club that is designed to meet the needs of the greater Itta Bena community through humanitarian projects, education, health awareness, and other service projects. The club meets on every Friday at 12:00pm at Community House located in the Library. For more information, contact 662-4530440.
Trees of Life is a statewide program sponsored by the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency. The purpose is to promote donor awareness and explain the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue transplantation. On May 15, 2007 a tree planting ceremony was held in Itta Bena at the L.T. Brazil Center to celebrate the renewal of health and life given to transplant recipients and honor donor families. The next tree planting ceremony will be held in spring of 2008. For more information contact James Laird at 1-800-690-8878.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free tax help to low to moderate income residents who are unable to prepare their own tax returns. The L.T. Brazil Center will serve as a VITA Site. The next scheduled workshop is November 8, 2007. For more information, contact 1-800-829-1040.
Women’s Club of Itta Bena was formulated out of the Good Will Industrial Club which originated in 1954 and had a membership roster of at least 20 women. The Women’s Club is still an active organization who helps participated in community projects such as neighborhood clean-up, serving meals to the sick and shut in, and working with other organizations to seek scholarships for youth interested in attending college.
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
