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GFWC Menominee Woman’s Club (Michigan) places flags on veteran’s graves at Menominee’s Riverside Cemetery for Memorial Day each year. This year, the club decided it could still participate in the project if masks were worn and the social distancing rules were followed. It was a beautiful day on May 21 for volunteers to honor about 400 veterans with flags. A photo of some of our volunteers in their masks is attached.

An additional 2020 Memorial Day project for GFWC Menominee Woman’s Club was to clean the marble gravestones in the original Veterans Memorial area of Menominee’s Riverside Cemetery. Last autumn Pat Krah, Chair of the Public Issues CSP, approached Todd and Christina Schloegel, owners of Menominee Granite Co., with a request for a price estimate to clean all the marble headstones. Their response was :”We will clean the headstones at no cost to your Club. It will be a thank you to your Club which does so much good in our community.” A photo of the newly washed headstones is attached.

Earlier this year, when schools and planned service projects started being canceled or postponed, members of the GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club (Georgia) scrambled to find creative ways to serve and quickly discovered that their communities needed them more than ever. After holding their first virtual meetings and challenging their Community Service Program (CSP) Chairs to get creative, GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club President Diane DeGaetano, a retired RN who understands first-hand the importance of protective equipment, encouraged all the seamstresses in the club to start sewing masks for local and state hospitals workers in need. More than 300 masks have been shipped and delivered to date with many more to come. She then asked each CSP to donate a portion of their annual budget to provide a GFWC Federation Day Italian buffet lunch for 30+ respiratory therapists at their local county hospital. Not only were they able to show their appreciation for the medical frontline workers, but they also supported one of their local small business restaurants with the project.

GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club education committee members identified the need for children’s books at their Title I elementary school after the libraries and schools closed. They coordinated with the principal and administrators to establish a Pop-Up Little Free Library in front of the school stocked with 3 cases of disinfected along with new and used books for readers of all ages. As the children and their parents or guardians walked to school to pick up their free lunches during the week, the school staff would give each child their own book to take home along with their lunch.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, International Affiliate GFWC CrêSer in Brazil is focusing its work on helping those in need. CrêSer is working to provide supplies and shelter to families affected by unemployment and cut in wages.

CrêSer relied on great commitment from its volunteers and employees for the manufacturing and distribution of 2,000 fabric and 300 acetate protection masks. A fundraising campaign made it possible to set up 1,215 baskets with non-perishable food that was delivered to families in need.

CrêSer adopted all hygienic security measures by suspending group activities, communicating via telephone, internet, and social networks. They also practiced social isolation and domestic care, as well as the prevention of violence against children, adolescents, and women.

CrêSer hope to return to normal programs soon!

The GFWC Appalachian Leading Ladies Junior Woman’s Club (Virginia) was officially federated in February at GFWC Virginia’s Mid-Winter Executive Board Meeting. Just ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak, which forced all clubs into quarantine, GFWC Appalachian Leading Ladies Junior Woman’s Club was unable to get started the way they envisioned. Instead, the club utilized group messages and video chatting on Facebook Messenger to adopt a mask-making project. Members donated supplies, monetary donations via PayPal, got started sewing, and distributed masks to those in need throughout the community at no charge.

GFWC Newington/Wethersfield Women’s Club (Connecticut) distributed nearly 300 free masks to community hospitals, clinics, first responders, pharmacies, police, correctional officers, those with health complications, and more. GFWC Appalachian Leading Ladies Junior Woman’s Club has donated 646 masks, 79 bands, and 8 hospital gowns. Masks were donated to Newington Rapid Recovery, Prudence Crandell, Newington Town Hall, and Senior & Disabled Center. They were also donated to co-workers, friends, and family. They have spent 387 hours making these items and donated over $700 in in-kind donations.

Clubs across Oklahoma had to be creative with celebrations as club years ended with sheltering-in-place and social distancing. GFWC Waurika Sorosis Club has sponsored a Tea for graduating seniors for more than 25 years. This year, club members had to be creative in honoring the class of 2020 graduates. On May 6, club members delivered each Waurika High School graduating senior yard signs, pizza, a rose, a gift from the club, and balloons. Club members drove separate cars and were careful to socially distance as the deliveries were made.

The group also gives each Kindergarten graduate a copy of “Oh the Places You Will Go,” a favorite by Dr. Seuss. This year, the books were distributed by school superintendent, Cody Simmons, as the students had their graduation in individual family groups with no more than two family members present. The kindergarten book program was started in 2011.

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Bridgeport (West Virginia) and the GFWC North Central Junior Alumnae (West Virginia), annually celebrates GFWC Federation Day. Typically, the occasion is noted with a meeting or party, but this year—due to the COVID-19—members celebrated in their own homes, snapping photos to share with each other. Members were asked to reflect on the many friendships made through their Federation involvement. They were to call a friend and reminisce about the wonderful opportunities they have shared through their membership in GFWC.

April is usually the month that GFWC Marlton Woman’s Club (New Jersey) gathers at its monthly meeting to partake in many fundraising events. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these events have been canceled. GFWC Marlton Woman’s Club witnessed the hardship of their neighbors and community suffering financially from business and school closures firsthand. Via electronic vote, it was approved by the membership to divide all available funds this year to donate to six area 501(c)(3) organizations that are on the front lines feeding, sheltering, and helping those at-risk in our community. GFWC Marlton Woman’s Club donated $750 each to the following six community partners: Cherokee High School Food Pantry, Covenant House, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Food Pantry, Providence House, Wiley Food Pantry, and Women with Voices Charity.

Earlier this year, when schools and planned service projects started being canceled or postponed, members of the GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club (Georgia) scrambled to find creative ways to continue to serve and quickly discovered that they cannot be stopped when their communities need us more than ever. Members came together and to help their communities in several ways:

1. GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club sewed more than 300 masks that have been shipped and delivered with many more to come.
2. GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club coordinated with local elementary school after the libraries and schools closed. They established a pop-up Little Free Library® in front of the school stocked with three cases of disinfectant, and books for readers of all ages.
   
3. GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club Home Life set up a drive-by food donation box outside of the Allstate office in downtown Lilburn, GA; it was posted on social media so that both the general public and club members could drop off donations for their local food pantry without ever leaving their cars or waiting in line.
   
4. GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club Arts Committee ordered components, assembled, and delivered 200 craft kits to Lilburn Elementary School for the children.
   

Even though Illinois was in its fifth week of “shelter in place,” members of GFWC Northwest Suburban Woman’s Club (Illinois) still celebrated Earth Day. Here’s how members of the GFWC Northwest Suburban Woman’s Club celebrated:

• They posted celebratory announcements of Earth Day on their personal Facebook pages.
• They participated in a Zoom video call online and shared their experiences.

It was a full Earth Day!

The GFWC Women’s Club of South County (Rhode Island) participated in the Arbor Day Grand Initiative. The club provided the funds for three trees to be planted in South County Rhode Island. The participating Rhode Island communities were Narragansett, South Kingstown, and Charlestown. The trees selected were a flowering plum, an autumn flowering cherry, and a tulip tree. The towns were very appreciative to participate in this program. Members were also asked to plant trees or woody shrubs to help in this project. As a result, two trees and six woody shrubs were planted.

In honor of Federation Day on April 24, the GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club (Florida) was proud to donate an Automated External Defibrillator trainer to the High Springs Fire Department. AEDs make it possible for more people to respond to a medical emergency where defibrillation is required.

GFWC Julian Woman’s Club (California) has now sewn well more than 600 face masks. The majority have been delivered to healthcare workers at hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, and clinics. Another member has sewn more than 200 masks for locals in our small town. Once the word was out, residents have contacted the club requesting masks. A donation is requested as a way to honor the project.

The GFWC Temecula Valley Woman’s Club (California) is always thinking of ways to help its communities. Members were notified that the Temecula Valley Hospital were in need of “disposable shoe protectors,” or as we call them, “booties.” GFWC Temecula Valley Woman’s Club had a bulk of these supplies stored for our next Holiday Home Tour. Club President Carol Stern contacted the club’s Executive Board to see if they would approve donating them to the hospital, which was granted. Kim O’Brien got them from storage and delivered seven boxes of 150 booties, three smaller boxes of booties, and one box of large garbage bags to the hospital. The nurses were thrilled to receive them.

Members of GFWC Woman’s Club of Spring Lake (New Jersey) have been busy making masks for all club members. The club has even expanded their distribution to assisted living facilities, families, neighbors, and friends. It has been donating to local food banks and sharing worthwhile health news to each other. Calls have been made to check in on older members, especially those who live alone.

GFWC Georgia North West District have been busy completing projects to help others during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Check out its video for unique project ideas.

For the past 20 years, GFWC Temple Terrace Juniorettes (Florida) have held an Egg Hunt for their community and the proceeds go to Relay for Life. Since the Egg Hunt was canceled this year the girls decided to use their Egg Hunt supplies to make Easter bags for the children of St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. Three of the club members are the grandchildren of the club’s advisor, Joyce Johnston. The children worked together to put the fill all 40 bags. Each bag has a dozen plastic eggs, two bags of candy, a prize, a craft item, and a sheet of stickers. The bags were given out to the children whose parents have been coming to the food bank for food boxes. The Juniorettes also donated $50 for the food bank to purchase more food, as there is an increased demand for food.

Twelve members of the GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club (Florida) read to the kindergarten and first grade classes at the High Springs Community School for Read Across America Day on March 2. The members read a book written by Dr. Seuss in honor of his birthday. The book was then donated to the class for their library.

The GFWC du Midi Woman’s Club (Alabama), celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday at Second Mile Preschool with the Cat in the Hat a.k.a. President Adelaide Cape, and Education Community Service Program Co-Chair, Amy Tolson, reading a few of their favorite books. After reading, each child got to pick out one Dr. Seuss book to keep in support of the Grand Initiatives. Each student from the preschool also received a copy of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” as a Christmas present.

Many GFWC Clubs have but there Volunteers Spirit in action during the world’s current pandemic. With a shortage in medical supplies, many GFWC Clubs have stepped up and used their time to make handmade mask and hats for their local first responders. Read about the great acts of kindness that our GFWC clubwomen have participated in below:

Members of the Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills (New Jersey), Bernadette Cicchino and Cathy Haney, sewed nineteen cloth face masks for the Troy Hills Convalescent Center in Parsippany. They also passed along a donation of a box of disposable masks from Mary Li of Parsippany. They thank Barbara Lerner of Parsippany and Leslie Moran of Randolph, who each donated elastic for this project.

To make additional masks to donate, their members need narrow elastic (1/4” or 1/8”) to make the ear pieces for the mask.

GFWC Woman’s Club of West Milford Township (New Jersey) has made more than 30 hats and counting for healthcare workers at Chilton Hospital. Vice President Carol Henkel found a stitched pattern to make the mask and shared it with members. Carol also provided homemade bias tape and elastic.

GFWC Woman’s Club of West Broward (Florida) joined together to make mask for those in the healthcare field. They mask will be donated to local fireman, policemen, nursing’s homes, and hospitals.

Each year, GFWC Woman’s Club of Winter Haven (Florida) funds a scholarship for local students. This year’s recipients are two talented young women, Madison Dobbs and Jazmin Patel.

Madison Dobbs is the recipient of the $4000.00 endowed scholarship. She is eagerly waiting news of her acceptance to UCF where she plans to study to be a nurse practitioner. If she is not accepted there she will attend Polk State College and enroll in the fine nursing studies program. Madison is such a lovely speaking, polite, friendly, and positive young lady. Congratulations Madison!

Jazmin Patel is the recipient of the Consumer Science Award and will graduate from the Cambridge Program at Winter Haven High School. Thanks to the generosity of club members this year’s check will be $500. Jazmin is also waiting to hear from UCF where she plans to study business. If she is not accepted at UCF, she will attend Sante Fe College in Gainesville for two years and then transfer to University of Florida in Gainesville. Jazmin is a focused, intelligent, and personable young woman. Congratulations Jazmin!

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Winter Haven would like you to thank all those who contributed to the success of these wonderful young women.

GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club (West Virginia) hosted there 2nd annual “Be the Change Ball.” This year’s theme was “Fairest of Them All.” A total of $97,246.56 was raised at this event. The fund raised from this event will be split in two ways. Some funds ($85,000 ) will go West Virginia’s new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital to fund a NICU Milk Bank, and a Child Life Prep Room. The remaining $12,246.56 goes to the club for the work they do in their community and beyond.

Check out more about this event on the clubs website and the West Virginia News.

GFWC South Baldwin Woman’s Club (Alabama) works with the Guardians of the Ribbon– Lower Alabama Chapter to promote awareness and support for cancer survivors. Debby Hauble was a member for many years prior to her diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer. October 2020, will be the third year that the club participated “Gulf Shores Goes Pink.” a celebration held by the Gulf Shores Fire Department. This event brings the community together to show love and support for all cancer victims, their families, and caregivers. All donations are given to locals in the community.

GFWC Tennessee held a luncheon on March 10 with guest speaker, Wanda Sobieski, who highlighted eight influential women. Seven of the women were from Tennessee and worked tirelessly to make Tennessee the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment. Club members dressed as the eight suffragettes. Following the program and luncheon, there was a tour of the State Capitol.