‘Jolene brings Joy:’ Annual yard sale helps girl with childhood Alzheimer’s

WARNER ROBINS – Mom’s Club of Warner Robins will be hosting its annual yard sale this Friday and Saturday with proceeds going to a child in the community. 

Mom’s Club is an international nonprofit serving both mothers and children. President Rachel Toomer explained one of their requirements is to do an event each year that benefits moms and children. This year, the beneficiary is a seven-year-old girl named Jolene “Jojo” Funderburk, who was diagnosed with a rare terminal degenerative disease named Sanfilippo Syndrome also known as childhood Alzheimer’s.

Toomer shared Funderburk has been going through therapies over the years. Since it is a degenerative disease, any skills she currently has or will learn are going to disappear. Eventually, she’ll lose her ability to do anything, Toomer explained.

Before she loses her abilities, her parents want to redo her room and turn it into a high-sensory room. This will provide her with a safe space to regulate and enjoy her favorite activities as she continues to fight the disease. The money raised from the yard sale will go towards helping her parents achieve their goal.

Currently, there are no treatments or cures for the disease, but her parents remain hopeful for new research. Funderburk enjoys Disney princesses, playdoh, coloring and playing in her play kitchen. With a disease similar to Alzehimer’s, routine and consistency is important to help her thrive.

The yard sale offers many donated items including baby gear, appliances, outdoor gear, clothing and home decor. Toomer shared this is the third yard sale she has been a part of and has seen it grow along with the community’s support. 

She remembers the first yard sale she was involved in and said people attended, but not as much as now. Toomer shared that now people message them on social media, offering support from donating to buying. 

Every year, members of the club are encouraged to submit beneficiary candidates. From there, they will check in with the candidates to see if they are interested. When they express interest, they gather information about them and present it to the club. Toomer said once they present the candidate, club members will vote on who should benefit from the yard sale. Funderburk was one of the candidates submitted by a member and was later selected as the beneficiary.

Toomer hopes the yard sale will meet Funderburk’s needs now rather than later.

“The sooner those needs get met the more benefit it’ll be for her as an individual and as a child getting to do all those sensory things,” she said.

Toomer said the Mom’s Club stands for moms offering other moms support, whether they are a member or not, which is their overall goal.

“Any way we can support or help whether it’s a financial need, whether it’s food from our food pantry, whether it’s just showing up when you’re sad and need somebody else or showing up when it’s crazy and chaotic to say ‘yeah, my house is crazy and chaotic too.’ It’s important to help others,” she said.

To stay updated on Jolene “Jojo” Funderburk, visit her Facebook page. 

The Charity Yard Sale will be on Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. Mom’s Club is still accepting donations and encourages those interested to drop off at the church on Tuesday, April 22, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, April 23, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment. 

All Saints’ Episcopal Church is located at 1706 Watson Boulevard.