The Junior League of Lancaster (JLL) will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Monday, Nov. 13. This date marks not only a century of service by the JLL, but also the anniversary of the exact date when the league held its first meeting in 1923 at the YWCA. In tribute to this milestone, the JLL will hold its general membership meeting on Nov. 13 at the YWCA. The event will provide an opportunity for members to come together, to celebrate their achievements and look forward to its future years of service to the Lancaster community.

It was at the YWCA that 55 young women first convened, with Laura Louise Watt serving as the temporary chair and being subsequently elected as the first JLL president. It was here that the seeds of the JLL were sown, and its mission to develop the leadership potential of women for the betterment of the Lancaster community took root.

The JLL has a long history of voluntarism in areas such as education, literacy, and cultural enrichment. During the past century, its achievements have included preserving historical properties like Rock Ford and raising funds for Wheatland's restoration.

As of June 2022, the JLL's current initiative is focused on addressing food and nutrition accessibility, seeking to combat a lack of access to healthy and nutrient-rich food while enhancing nutrition knowledge and dietary habits for all segments of Lancaster County's population. The initiative includes a multifaceted approach, with JLL members collecting 1,500 manual can openers for the Lancaster Power Packs Project, raising funds to support the initiative, setting up pop-up produce markets, and establishing and maintaining a community garden at the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster's Jack Walker Clubhouse in downtown Lancaster. This initiative exemplifies the JLL's commitment to addressing pressing community needs.

The JLL will mark its 100th anniversary with a series of events throughout the year, including the centennial jubilee on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Fulton Theatre. At this event, active and sustaining members, along with community partners, will come together to celebrate the JLL's impact and look ahead to the future.

For more information about the JLL, visit http://www.jllancaster.org/joining-the-junior-league-of-lancaster/.