The members of District 3 of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Louisiana met on Saturday, March 11, 2023 in Thibodaux for their Annual Meeting. At that meeting donated items were collected for the Vermilion Women’s Resource Center, which is the special focus of District 3 President Meg Hebert of Abbeville. The VWRC (vermilionwrc.com) provides services to women and children to improve their quality of life through giving them “a hand up, not a hand out.” Services include life skills for parents, HiSet/GED support, mentor program, Resilient Families Program, and employment and career support. Items donated by the members of District 3 included disposable diapers, baby wipes, hygiene products, baby blankets, and stuffed animals. District 3 includes two clubs in Vermilion Parish, the Woman’s Club of Abbeville and Les Dames de Gueydan, and three clubs in the Houma-Thibodeaux area, Bayou Junior Woman’s Club, GFWC Houma Junior Woman’s Club, and GFWC of Southern Belles.
Pictured from left to right, delivering the donated items to the VWRC: Meg Hebert, District 3 President; Brenda Landry, President of the Woman’s Club of Abbeville; and members of the Woman’s Club of Abbeville, Jane Barras, Elaine Dill, and Linda Weill.
ART AND EDUCATION AT MILLVILLE WOMAN’S CLUB (NJ)
At their March meeting, members of the Millville Woman’s Club (MWC) enjoyed a presentation by Sandy Smith. Director of Community Outreach at the Barn Studio of Art. The Barn Studio in a non-profit organization established to “nurture the study of art and nature throughout the community in a non-competitive, creative, developmentally appropriate and positive atmosphere.” Pat Wit, a Cumberland County native, accomplished artist and advocate for the Maurice River and Delaware Bay, founded the studio in her home in 1962 and it has remained there. Ms. Smith expounded on their Community Outreach Program which offers workshops that “introduce visual art, classical ballet, classical music, pottery and nature study to groups of young children of diverse backgrounds.” She was very enthusiastic about their program and showed slides of young children on nature walks outside, inside enjoying music, practicing some dance steps and painting. Learning about nature and exploring with colors and shapes “enables students to tap into their creative spirits.” For information about these Community Outreach Workshops and scholarship programs, contact Sandy Smith, Director, at (856)825-5028 or e-mail info@barnstudio.org.
