Volunteers in Action: GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club and GFWC West Side Women’s Club

August 17, 2021

GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club 

Members of the GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club (Florida) worked together to raise money to purchase protective hoods for their local fire departments.

The club’s Second Vice President Bonnie Josey said the club hosted a fundraiser at a popular local brewery and the day included music, food trucks, and raffle prize baskets. She said they raised about $3,000 during the fundraiser, and 100 percent of the proceeds went toward helping the fire departments.

“It was one of our most successful fundraisers and everyone had a great time,” she said. “People were very generous.”

Bonnie explained the protective hoods they purchased for the firefighters go over their face masks and under the rest of their equipment to protect their head, neck, and shoulders from heat, smoke, and chemicals that can result in serious health problems.

With the money raised, the clubwomen purchased 30 hoods for two area fire departments and various supplies for a third department that was not in need of hoods.

Bonnie said the members and other people in the community were all excited to help support the local fire departments in any way they could.

“Being a small town, we are very close to our fire departments and we know they didn’t have full protection,” she said.

 

 

GFWC West Side Women’s Club 

Members of GFWC West Side Women’s Club (Pennsylvania) recently completed a food drive to benefit the Al Beech West Side Food Pantry, located in the Church of Christ Uniting. Club member and Health and Wellness Chairman Nancy D’Amico said 25 clubwomen participated in the food drive and they collected several hundred dollars’ worth of food and monetary donations for the pantry.

“It was through the generosity of our members that we were able to give,” Nancy said.

She explained the food pantry serves 10 different communities with the help of volunteers and donations. In 2020 alone, Nancy said the pantry was able to serve more than two million meals and help more than 500 families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There was a huge need for help there,” she said.

Nancy said the Health and Wellness Committee wanted to work on this donation project because they are focused on the awareness and advancement of the benefits of good nutrition for everyone. She added with the continued difficulties many people are facing due to the pandemic, members thought this would be a good way to offer help.

“We just felt that it was important, especially this year,” she said.