GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club 
After a two-year hiatus, GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club (Massachusetts) held its third Trunk-or-Treat event on October 23 to kick off GFWC Advocates for Children’s Week. Club member and GFWC Juniors’ Special Program Chairman Katie Robey explained the event recruited businesses and other local nonprofits to pay for a spot in a parking lot to set up their vehicle and decorate it with a Halloween theme. Each business and organization then gave out treats or small toys to kids and their families as they walked around the fun-filled event.
“It was a great way to get the community involved and raise some funds,” Katie said.
Club President Justine Craven Goetz said the Trunk-or-Treat event was a wonderful way for kids to enjoy Halloween safely. She added that about 800 to 900 children attended.
“The day went really well,” Justine said. “It is a great event at so many levels.”
In addition to the treats and toys from local organizations, the club provided games for the children to play, as well as several Halloween-themed photo opportunities and a Membership booth with a treat and information for the adults. Pumpkins provided by a local garden store were also given away for free to attendees and the property owner provided popcorn, coffee, and hot chocolate.
The Marlborough Fire Department also brought a truck and firefighters to talk to the attendees and the Marlborough Police Department came with a vehicle as well as their K9 dog, Meiko, and handed out stickers.
Proceeds from the event will be used to help fund the club’s community service projects.
GFWC Woman’s Citizenship Club of Alamosa 
Members of the GFWC Woman’s Citizenship Club of Alamosa (Colorado) are working hard to help those in need in their community while also protecting the environment. Club member and GFWC Colorado Communications and Public Relations Chairman Theresa Rudder explained that several clubwomen are in the process of crocheting plastic sleeping mats to donate to people experiencing homelessness and to area nursing homes. These mats, made from “plarn” are waterproof, easy to clean, and good for insulation. Plarn is plastic yarn made from cutting up plastic grocery bags.
Theresa said it takes about 500 plastic bags to make one mat and members hope to make three to four mats out of the plastic bags they currently have but added that this will be an ongoing project.
“It’s such a great project and it’s so fun to make the plarn,” she said.
In addition to being a way to fill a need in the community, Theresa said the project will benefit the environment as well.
“Since we are using all the bags, they aren’t filling up the oceans and landfills,” she said.