The Junior Optimist International (JOI) club at New Castle High School (NCHS) gives students the opportunity to give back to their community and have a lot of fun doing it. This club is led by Mrs. Delay and a group of student leaders with President Aubrey Lapp; Vice President Samuel Huynh; Treasurer Delaney Ryan; Secretary Lauren Gilman; Historian Ashlynn Blessinger.
Recently, the club took a trip to the nonprofit organization, I Support the Girls (ISTG) in Indianapolis. The Optimists helped sort period products, clothing, and other essentials for women and people in need. Sophomore Melody Webb has been in JOI for two years and her favorite part is the annual ISTG trip. She joined because she wanted to “get involved in community service.” The club, however, turned out to be so much more for her. Webb made new friends and took action with a group of people she “shares morals with.” The club is a great way to find a community of positive people who want to make the world a better place. Junior Optimists organize drives for their various service projects and encourage students to bring in items when needed.
Meetings are held in Mrs. Delay’s room every month. She is a part of the Breakfast Optimist Organization in New Castle which led her to bring it to New Castle High School. The club here is only 5 years old so it has even more expanding to do in the future. The International Optimist organization has been serving in communities for over 100 years and the legacy has expanded to NCHS. With over 40 members in JOI, Delay would love to see more members get active in the club’s events. Delay encourages students to “show up if you like to do community service!”
Ryan is the treasurer of JOI and loves to “see people smile” while “[seeing] the impact it makes on our community” because of the projects that the club does. Blessinger shares Ryan’s love. Both girls enjoy the bingo nights with the elderly at Raintree Square nursing home. They love to see the joy on their faces when they see the prizes the club has brought for them. Blessinger is the historian of the club which means she operates and posts on the Junior Optimist social media. In addition to the bingo nights, JOI also participates in Day of Caring every year. They clean around the outside of the school by pulling weeds or picking up trash. She says that JOI will work on more projects “based on club participation.” Anybody who wants to join is welcome and should talk to any of the student officers or Mrs. Delay.
