Civic Engagement and Outreach Community Service Program

Civic Engagement and Outreach Community Service Program

Adopting a Veteran

The GFWC Harwinton Women’s Club (CT) adopted 21 veterans from a local nursing home. Members visited the nursing home and learned each veteran’s name, rank, and branch of service. After this, the club’s Veteran’s Committee, along with other local veterans and a chaplain, gathered in front of the nursing home to recognize the veterans there and presented them with ribbons adorned with their service information attached to American flags. The flags were then planted in the ground.

Operation Stand Down Tennessee

The GFWC Brentwood Franklin Women’s Service Club (TN) partnered with the Veteran Mentorship program in Operation Stand Down Tennessee to support veterans as they transition from military service into civilian life. Members frequently donated clothing, household items, monthly baked goods, and Christmas boxes. Two fundraisers provided food, door prizes, and gift cards for additional funds.

Operation Bundles of Love

The GFWC Montgomery Woman’s Club (OH) supported Operation Bundles of Love, a program to help expecting military families. The club was asked to host a collection drive for baby items by the state director of the United Service Organizations. Donations were made by clubwomen, community members, other local women’s clubs, and individuals from the GFWC Ohio Southwest District.

Wreaths Across America

Members of the GFWC Herndon Woman’s Club (VA) spent a year preparing for their Wreaths Across America event. They updated their veteran’s database, sent information/sponsorship cards to potential donors, placed cards in public places, and attended community events. They also organized the wreath-laying ceremony and placed the wreaths at the veterans’ gravesites. The club donated $13,500 as part of this project.

Supporting Afghanistan Refugees

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Colorado Springs (CO) is working with the Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains to support Afghanistan refugee families, consisting of 178 people. Members raised $6,000 to directly support families with resources for housing, utility bills, and other essential needs. Three members attended a Zoom training session as part of this project, and more are scheduled.

Suitcase Stories

The GFWC Dedham Junior Women’s Club (MA) spent 600 hours working on research, meeting with community leaders, and planning and collaborating with the International Institute of New England to create Suitcase Stories, which invite dialogue between U.S and foreign-born residents to develop and share life-changing experiences of migration and cultural change. A Zoom presentation was offered to the community.

Fill My Bowl

The GFWC Calhoun Women’s Club (GA) volunteered 69 hours to Fill My Bowl, an event to raise funds for a soup kitchen and thrift shop. Members set up and decorated tables placed under an arbor and around the grounds, and prepared soups, breads, and desserts. Each attendee donated to receive a bowl from a selection provided by members, which guests could then keep as a reminder of the prevalence of food insecurity.

Family Promise

The GFWC Salem Woman’s Club (NH) partnered with Family Promise, an organization working to end homelessness. Members toured the facility and made a commitment of $10,000 over two years, with the first $5,000 being used to decorate a community room. Clubwomen also collected food and provided a meal once a month for more than 60 families and provided Christmas gifts to more than 30 children. The members donated 194 volunteer hours, $5,000, and $3,400 in-kind.

Lighthouse for Broken Wings

The GFWC Zwaanendael Woman’s Club (DE) provided lunches for more than 120 people who were living in hotels at different times during 2021 by working with Lighthouse for Broken Wings, an organization that supports people without homes. Members made and delivered 3,720 meals and donated $4,170 from their treasury to purchase gift cards from stores during the holidays. Another $1,139 was collected from businesses and through the club’s website. Members volunteered 1,037 hours and donated $9,736 in-kind.

Adopt A Native Elder

The GFWC Laramie Women’s Club (WY) supported Adopt a Native Elder, a nonprofit program that aims to reduce poverty and hardship. Food, firewood, and medical supplies were donated to Dine’ Navajo Elders on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona and Utah, including 17 10-pound bags of Bluebird Flour, cash, and in-kind donations. Members received special blessings in a Giveaway Circle with Dine’ Navajo Elders, and they purchased authentic Native American jewelry to be raffled to raise additional funds for the Elders.