GFWC Walnut Valley Women’s Club 
Members of the GFWC Walnut Valley Women’s Club (California) have been hard at work bringing joy to people by donating hundreds of books to a local Little Free Library set up outside a senior center. Clubwoman Terry Perkins said when the club noticed the senior center set up the free library outside the building at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the club members knew they wanted to be involved.
“The ladies were very supportive and excited,” Terry said.
She added since some of their volunteer and fundraising efforts could not take place as usual due to the coronavirus, the clubwomen were all eager to help by donating books.
“I think they saw this as a way to still serve people even though we couldn’t get out in person,” she said.
As of June, members of the GFWC Walnut Valley Women’s Club have donated more than 500 books to the library outside the senior center, and Terry said they are continuing to drop books off whenever they can.
“I was amazed by the range of books there,” she said.
Terry explained she and her fellow clubwomen were excited about donating to the library because there are people in their community who do not always have access to items such as books, and they wanted to do their part to help others and share their own love of reading.
“There’s a lot of people who don’t have anything,” she said. “A book is just a way of giving back to the community.”
Fuquay Varina Junior Woman’s Club 
In June, 11 members of the Fuquay Varina Junior Woman’s Club (North Carolina) rolled up their sleeves for their first hands-on volunteer project in quite a while. Clubwomen brought supplies and packed 38 care, food, and hygiene backpacks for homeless veterans with their friends at Military Missions in Action. This veterans’ organization provides various programs to support the needs of veterans.
Club President Heather Massengill said the club has been working with the veterans’ organization for many years in different capacities, and was excited for the opportunity to work with them on the backpack project while also getting to volunteer in person again since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was great to see everybody’s face, chat, and laugh while giving back,” Heather said.
Heather explained through fundraising the club raised $500 for the backpack project and Military Missions in Action provided them with a list of needed items, including sunscreen, food, first aid supplies, socks, flashlights, and more. A local Walmart also donated $200 worth of backpacks and Military Missions in Action provided several as well.
Heather said along with some essentials, they tried to include fun items such as playing cards in the backpacks.
“There was a wide variety of things you might not think they need, but are very important to them,” she said.
Heather added all the clubwomen were excited to take part in this volunteer event and give back to members of their community.
“This was a really hands-on way we could help,” she said. “It made you feel really good knowing these items were really making a difference in their lives.”