The Johnson O’Malley Program, or JOM, is formally starting a Beckham County chapter to benefit children from any Native American tribe.
The first meeting will be held at 1 pm at Full Blown Nutrition on Main Street in Elk City on May 8.
The group aims to help all Native American students aged pre-K to senior year.
Organizer Ashley Thompson said, “JOM provides for extra expenses related to any extracurricular activities that native kids do. This wonderful program will pay for athletic shoes, band instruments, or sports uniforms.”
In the first meeting, the group will elect officers. To be a quorum, Thompson needs at least five parents to attend.
“We have to form our parent committee,” Thompson advised. “We will then elect officers at this first meeting. This is to ensure all kids are involved, and we can best meet their needs.”
Thompson emphasized that children can be members of any recognized tribe to participate.
“If the child does not have a CDIB card, but their parent does and is also half Native American, the child can still benefit from this program. We want parents to come out and learn more,” Thompson stressed.
Thompson benefitted from the JOM program as a child. She believes that should be passed on to new generations of Native American kids.
“I was a very active student in school,” Thompson recounted. “I played in every sport that I could. I don’t know if that would have been possible without JOM because it is costly. My parents didn’t have much extra money. JOM paid for my summer camps and entry fees. I don’t know that I could list everything I got from this wonderful program, but I am thankful for it. JOM helped me have a brighter future, which is the program’s purpose. It was around when I was a kid, and that legacy needs to continue.” Thompson said the group could even pay for high school students to take the SAT or ACT.
“We can also get senior gifts for the students as they graduate. The point is to give the kids a good start and end in school,” Thompson added.
Thompson hopes other Native American parents will participate.
“We definitely need a few parents to step up and help make this a reality for all our kids,” Thompson said. “It doesn’t even have to be the Native parent. If your spouse is Native, we want you to come. We want to see all our kids do the best in all they can. Everyone is welcome.”
