Category: Volunteers in Action

Amery Woman’s Club 

Members of the Amery Woman’s Club donated funds to support GFWC Affiliate Organization Canine Companions.

The Amery Woman’s Club (Wisconsin) was excited to welcome GFWC Affiliate Organization Canine Companions to their September meeting to learn more about the nonprofit’s work in the service dog industry.

“The clubwomen believe in this organization and helping people,” said Club President Julie Andersen. “And we are all dog lovers.”

Canine Companions volunteer and trainer Michelle attended the club meeting with Chris, who she has had since he was 8 weeks old. Chris came to her from Alaska in October 2021 and has been training with Michelle for the last 15 months. After nine additional months of training, he will be placed with a child, adult, or veteran in need of a companion.

In addition to hearing more about how service animals are trained, the club members donated $200 dollars in support of the organization. The funds were raised through a gift basket raffle.

“These service dogs are just amazing creatures,” Julie said. “They change lives.”

Canine Companions, founded in 1975, is leading the service dog industry so people with disabilities can live with greater independence.

GFWC Wake Forest Woman’s Club 

GFWC Wake Forest Woman’s Club member Beth Dumproff helped transport donations of books and school supplies from the club to the local Boys and Girls Club.

Members of the Education and Libraries Committee of the GFWC Wake Forest Woman’s Club (North Carolina) have been hard at work in their community making a difference for kids of all ages. One of several projects the committee organized in the past several weeks was a donation of school supplies and books to the local Boys and Girls Club. Publicist Elaine Incorvaia said when the clubwomen met and decided that they wanted to support this organization, they reached out for a wish list of supplies from the Boys and Girls Club. After learning more about their after-school activities, members gathered books focused on pre-reading skills and rhyming words.

“The Boys and Girls Club was so thrilled with receiving everything,” she said.

In addition to this donation, the GFWC Wake Forest Woman’s Club also renewed a subscription to the Highlights for Children magazine on behalf of Safe Space, a local domestic violence shelter. Elaine said the members chose to do this because they want the children at the shelter to have something fun and entertaining to focus on and enjoy, even during challenging times.

Lastly, Elaine said the members plan to begin tutoring students at area schools soon. She noted the clubwomen are excited for the opportunity to help kids one-on-one again.

“They are our next generation. We want to support these kids and give them every opportunity we can,” she said. “We want to make education fun.”

GFWC Women’s Club of Granger 

Members of the GFWC Women’s Club of Granger (Iowa) are encouraging a love of reading and the outdoors by establishing a Story Trail in their community. Club Executive Officer Rose Dory said the trail of 25 story panels is currently on display in their local Centennial Park, and members regularly change and maintain the stories.

“The story walk gives kids a place to go to get out and the park is located well for them to walk there,” she said.

Rose explained the Story Trail project has been in the works for the past several years, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes within the city parks and recreation department, the project was temporarily postponed. After getting the project back up and running, the club worked with the local library and the city to finish organizing this fun activity for area children. The current stories being used for the project were obtained through an interlibrary exchange process from a library in a neighboring town that organized a story trail of their own. Rose said the club plans to purchase additional stories for their trail in the future. The rest of the project was made possible through a Thrivent grant and club funds.

Rose said the Story Trail will remain up at least through the fall and clubwomen will discuss if it will be on display during the winter. She added that because the story panels are portable, the trail can be moved to other locations in the city.

“We always want to support reading and education,” Rose said.

GFWC Women’s Civic League, Inc. 

The GFWC Women’s Civic League, Inc. (Utah) participated in a National Day of Service on September 11 to benefit GFWC Affiliate Organization Operation Smile. Club President Tonya Woodruff said members, guests, and even a clubwoman’s spouse came together to make Smile Splints for the organization. Smile Splints are comfortable arm bands that prevent children from bending their arms and touching their faces, which helps keep surgical incisions clean and promotes the healing of a child’s new smile. As of mid-September, volunteers with the club prepared 75 Smile Splints to send.

“Operation Smile is a great organization that changes lives,” Tonya said.

In addition to this donation, Tonya said the clubwomen intend to sew more Smile Splints and hospital gowns and plan to come up with additional ways that they can support the organization during the next couple of years. She added that even if members or friends of the club do not know how to sew, there are always ways to help.

“When people donate their time to help these children, it means so much to me,” she said.

GFWC Connecticut 

GFWC Connecticut clubwomen joined nonprofit Wreaths Across America this past weekend to wave the American flag in commemoration of the 21^st anniversary of September 11, 2001. State President Katherine DeBurra explained that Veterans Chairman Madeline Marzullo invited members to get involved, and clubs from across the state were eager to participate.

“Madeline’s enthusiasm is infectious,” Katherine said. “She has a great passion for veterans and thought this would be a wonderful project for GFWC.”

Clubwomen joined Wreaths Across America staff, volunteers, veterans, and area first responders to wave the flag in their own communities beginning at 8:46 a.m. ET, the same time on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, that five hijackers took control of American Airlines Flight 11 and flew it into the heart of New York City and the northern façade of the World Trade Center’s North Tower (1 WTC). The flag waving ended at 10:03 a.m. ET, when four hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 93 into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on the same day.

Katherine said she is proud of GFWC Connecticut for participating in this event and showing their respect and support to everyone who was touched by the events September 11.

“This was a wonderful way to honor these families,” she said.

GFWC Lombard Junior Women’s Club 

Approximately 200 kids enjoyed a fun-filled STEM Activity Day hosted by the GFWC Lombard Junior Women’s Club (Illinois) this summer. Education and Libraries Chairman Susie Denz said the campers with the Tri-Town YMCA were divided into eight different classrooms to play science- and math-based games, build structures, color posters, complete experiments, and more.

“This was a wonderful project, and we were excited to be able to do something in person again,” Susie said.

Susie explained the project was a collaboration between the YMCA staff and club volunteers with the goal of talking to young people in the community about the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and how they can use those skills in jobs and in life as they get older. She added that the activities were organized to be age appropriate for all the kids in attendance.

In addition to the success of the activity day, Susie said the club donated all the games and supplies they brought with them to the YMCA for kids to enjoy year-round.

“It was great to see so many kids learning about STEM,” she said. “The kids just loved it.”

GFWC Millville Woman’s Club 

Throughout the summer, GFWC Millville Woman’s Club (New Jersey) members have been hard at work supporting the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation (ECF). Selected as the special state project, the ECF provides New Jersey families facing the crisis of pediatric cancer a place to turn to for support and comfort. Their services are focused on the entire family and their day-to-day needs at home, including in-home counseling, obtaining food and other supplies, providing advocacy and emergency relief as warranted, and more.

To offer their support to this organization and to help children in the community, clubwoman Pam McNamee explained that members donated 31 backpacks filled with pens, pencils, highlighters, tablets, coloring books, and other school supplies to ECF.

“This project was to fill backpacks for not only the children who have cancer, but also their brothers and sisters so they don’t feel left out,” she said. “Wherever we can help, we try to make a difference.”

In addition to the backpack donation, Pam said the club plans to continue to support ECF through projects such as food drives, creating “birthday bags” for the children, and more.

“It is a very worthwhile foundation,” she said.

GFWC East Peoria Woman’s Club 

The GFWC East Peoria Woman’s Club (Illinois) donated $300 to their local library’s summer reading program to encourage children to foster a love of reading. Club President Phyllis Yerby said supporting programs such as this has always been important to the members, and they were thrilled to be able to donate to the Fondulac District Public Library in their city.

“Our club is into making sure kids are educated,” she added.

Phyllis said the club always sets some money raised during fundraisers aside for the library each year, but they were able to donate additional funds this year due to the generosity of a fellow clubwoman, who requested memorial contributions go to GFWC after her passing. With the funds collected, the club will also be able to provide another $300 donation for the community’s Head Start program.

In addition to supporting the various library programs, the GFWC East Peoria Woman’s Club was given the opportunity to set up a display case at the library featuring information about the club’s history and recent successful club projects. Pam said the display features projects such as hosting a food drive, donating more than 200 books for the Head Start program, selling flowerpots to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and more.

“We wanted to let people know what our club is doing,” she said.

GFWC Windsor Woman’s Club 

Connecticut clubwomen gave out backpacks filled with school supplies during their community’s Back to School Block Party.

Members of the GFWC Windsor Woman’s Club (Connecticut) have been hard at work this summer helping students prepare for going back to school. Clubwoman Maureen Andryuk explained the members donated school supplies worth more than $730 to the community’s Back to School Block Party on August 25. The donated supplies, which included notebooks, plastic folders, pencil sharpeners, erasers, and much more, went into backpacks that were then handed out to children and families who attended the event.

In addition to providing backpacks filled with school supplies, club members volunteered to help with other games and activities at the Back to School Block Party. The event was presented by the Town of Windsor Office of Family and Community Partnerships.

Maureen said that due to lasting economic impacts of COVID-19, it has been difficult for some families to put together a complete set of supplies for their children, and the members wanted to do everything they could to offer some assistance. She added that this project was important to clubwomen because they want to continue to support kids in their community and ensure that they receive the best education possible.

“We want to keep the attendance up and we want to make sure children have what they need to be successful and do well in school,” Maureen said.

GFWC Shorewood Woman’s Club 

In conjunction with their annual August Birthday Luncheon, the GFWC Shorewood Woman’s Club organizes a school supply drive to support local students.

The GFWC Shorewood Woman’s Club (Wisconsin) donated more than $600 in funds and school supplies to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission for children in need. Membership Chairman Kay Berzsenyi explained that the club hosts a school supply drive in conjunction with their annual August Birthday Luncheon each summer and they select different local organizations to support with their donations.

“Each year we look for an organization that indicates they need different things,” Kay said. “The Milwaukee Rescue Mission was very happy to receive these school supplies.”

Kay said the members were provided with a list of items to choose from to donate, which included a variety of basic school supplies to help children be successful as they return to the classroom. She added that members always enjoy shopping for the children and are happy to know they are making a positive impact on students in the community.

“Supporting students who need the help falls in with our aim,” Kay said.

In addition to the school supply drive, Kay said the GFWC Shorewood Woman’s Club works to help students by providing a few scholarships for graduating seniors and returning university students each year.

GFWC Clarksville Women’s Club  

Tennessee clubwomen baked homemade lasagna for families in need in their community.

Members of the GFWC Clarksville Women’s Club (Tennessee) shared the love in their community by baking 10 large trays of homemade lasagna for Lasagna Love as part of their “Toss the Sauce” project.

Club President Patty Gabilondo said the club got involved with Lasagna Love, a global nonprofit that aims to connect neighbors through homemade meal deliveries, after hearing from a new member who worked with the organization before moving to the area. After sharing information about this exciting opportunity at a monthly meeting, several clubwomen jumped on board. Patty said members made donations, spoke with local food pantries to see if they were interested in collaborating on the project, and set a day to bake. Members and two area food pantries agreed to donate ingredients.

“They were so generous and thought this project filled a niche for families who are food insecure but not to the level of coming to the pantry,” Patty said.

She explained that the club reached out to a Lasagna Love Regional Director to determine which families they would be helping with the meals, and she said members specifically requested families with children.

“We felt this was really important because there are families everywhere struggling to put food on tables for children and we know children do better in school when they are not hungry,” Patty said.

After one afternoon’s work, the club’s meals positively impacted 45 individuals, including 26 children the week before school started.

Woman’s Club of Spokane 

The Woman’s Club of Spokane hosted sewing classes for women refugees in their community.

In July, four members of the Woman’s Club of Spokane (Washington) taught basic sewing skills to women refugees originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Club Vice President and project organizer Susan Kuhner said the club initially started fundraising for a sewing class that would be offered through another organization, but due to extenuating circumstances, the members decided to use the funds to offer a sewing class at their clubhouse.

Susan said she reached out to a friend from her local church who is also a young Congolese man to ask if he knew of any women in the community who may enjoy and benefit from attending a sewing class. After contacting friends and neighbors, four women signed up for the classes.

Members were able to provide one-on-one instruction during four classes throughout July on donated sewing machines, and the women in attendance had the joy of creating beautiful clothing and bags of their own.

Susan said this project was important to members because they wanted to help eliminate barriers for these women to fully join the community.

“I think as a woman, to feel beautiful and make something you can wear is a great feeling,” she said. “It is important that they have something they can create for their children or for themselves. We thought this would bring them some happiness.”

GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club 

Members of the GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club enjoyed a Christmas in July event to raise sponsors for Wreaths Across America.

The GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club (Tennessee) started their holiday fundraising early with a Christmas in July gathering to get sponsors and raise funds for Wreaths Across America. Club President Linda Hershey explained the club has supported Wreaths Across Chattanooga for the past eight years, and the clubwomen were all excited to continue with this tradition. Rather than waiting until later in the year to collect donations for wreaths, members thought the July event would be a great way to get the ball rolling on this beloved project.

Linda said the club decorated a red, white, and blue Christmas tree, served refreshments, and invited Wreaths Across Chattanooga Director Mickey McCamish to speak to members and guests in attendance about the organization, its history, and mission. During the event, the club raised enough money for 40 wreaths to honor veterans at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Linda said the club will continue collecting donations throughout the year.

As many members of the GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club have loved ones in the National Cemetery, Linda said this has always been a personal and important project to the club.

“We want to show our appreciation for the sacrifices of veterans and their families,” added Club Treasurer Susan Lamberth.

GFWC Woman’s Century Club

GFWC Idaho clubwomen raised several hundred dollars to help provide children in need around the world with long-lasting shoes.

Members of the GFWC Woman’s Century Club (Idaho) presented a check to Because International’s The Shoe That Grows to help make a difference for children around the world.

Club member and GFWC Idaho State President Cindy Biesemeyer said clubwomen in Idaho have been fundraising for this nonprofit organization for several years to support its efforts to provide long-lasting, expandable shoes to children in need so that they can attend school with their feet protected. She added that GFWC Idaho Past State President Jean Hogin (2020-2022) also worked to promote this nonprofit and encouraged clubwomen to participate.

In addition to helping children, the organization’s warehouse is located in Nampa, Idaho, and has become an important part of the community. Cindy said all the clubs in the state organized various fundraisers of their own and turned in their donations during the State Convention in the spring. In total, more than $800 was collected for the organization.

“This project is part of how we can support the local community and these children,” she said. “This is a great way to advocate for children.”

GFWC Yucaipa Woman’s Club 

During their annual “Christmas in July” luncheon, GFWC Yucaipa Woman’s Club members donated toys and snacks for children in the community.

For the fifth year, the GFWC Yucaipa Woman’s Club (California) hosted a “Christmas in July” luncheon for members to donate bags and boxes of toys and snacks to the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House. Clubwoman Virginia Cosby said this year members filled two eight-foot-long tables with donations during the event.

While the club gives donations of toys and other items to children in need during the holiday season through local police and fire departments, Virginia said they wanted to ensure kids were looked after year-round, which initially prompted them to reach out to Ronald McDonald House Charities about making a donation during the summers.

“Kids should have toys all year,” she said. “We love our Christmas in July, and we look forward to it every year.”

This year, Virginia said the Ronald McDonald House requested items for infants and teenagers, and a volunteer coordinator joined the clubwomen for the lunch. She also provided a brief talk about the history and mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“It’s such a wonderful organization. We are so happy to be working with them.” Virginia said.

GFWC Tellico Village 

Clubwomen in one Tennessee club came together to sew dresses and shorts for children in need in Haiti.

Members of GFWC Tellico Village (Tennessee) have been hard at work sewing colorful clothing for children in need. Club President Michele Ondeck said clubwomen recently donated 40 handmade sundresses, 40 pairs of handmade shorts, and 40 T-shirts and pairs of underwear to the Dezman Fleury Foundation for children in Haiti through the David Leslie Ministries.

Michele explained there is a group of members within the club who enjoy getting together and completing sewing projects, such as on behalf of Operation Smile and other local organizations in need.

“Every club has projects that are dear to them, and I think our favorite projects have always been focused on local child advocacy,” she said. “But we wanted to reach out more on an international level.”

In total, Michele said members spent nearly 80 hours sewing the clothing items. The club members plan to continue to work on sewing projects to support children in need around the world in the future.

GFWC Illinois Morris Woman’s Club 

GFWC Illinois Morris Woman’s Club members provided posters about the Angel Shot program to local bars and restaurants to help women in the community feel safe.

To help women and others in their community feel safe, members of the GFWC Illinois Morris Woman’s Club (Illinois) approached local restaurants and bars to ask if they would like to participate in the Angle Shot program. Mary Lee Howard, Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Chairman, explained that participating businesses were given a laminated poster to display in restrooms. The poster states that if a woman is being annoyed or harassed, her date isn’t who he said he was, or she feels otherwise unsafe, she should go to the bartender or a server and ask for an Angel Shot. The “shot” can be requested in various ways for different forms of assistance, including “neat” if they need an escort to their vehicle, “dressed” if they need a ride service, or “with lime” if they need the police. Businesses were also provided a laminated sheet for behind the bar with these descriptions listed.

“I thought this was a wonderful opportunity to help protect people,” Mary Lee said. “I want people to feel safe in our community.”

The club mainly focused on approaching businesses that sell alcoholic beverages, but Mary Lee said they would love to give other and new businesses posters as well. Almost 30 businesses agreed to participate in the Angle Shot program and some requested multiple posters to put up in their facilities.

Mary Lee explained the posters were designed to be attractive and eye-catching, and they state that they were provided by the GFWC Illinois Morris Woman’s Club at the bottom.

“I think this is a worthwhile project for any club in any size community,” she said. “This is close to our hearts.”

GFWC Minnesota 

GFWC Minnesota member Kay James presented a donation check to Kelly Procida, UNICEF USA Manager, Global Cause Partnerships, during the GFWC 2022 Annual Convention.

GFWC Minnesota clubwomen celebrated the Kentucky Derby by raising funds for GFWC Affiliate Organization UNICEF USA’s humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. Jean Walker, GFWC Minnesota Past State President (2018-2020), explained that the State Federation organizes a fundraiser at their State Convention each year since it always takes place during the Kentucky Derby in the first weekend in May. Members who want to “bet” on a horse can donate a dollar or more to participate in the fundraisers, and winners will have bragging rights for the year.

The money raised is usually donated to the state’s LEADS fund, Jean said, but members instead voted to donate the funds collected this year to UNICEF for Ukraine.

“We felt the families there needed our help and we wanted to give back to them,” she said. “Our goal was to help children get food and water.”

GFWC Minnesota member Kay James presented the donation check to Kelly Procida, UNICEF USA Manager, Global Cause Partnerships, during the GFWC 2022 Annual Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.