Volunteers in Action: GFWC Illinois; The Woman’s Club of Point Pleasant; GFWC Woman’s Citizenship Club; GFWC New Jersey

June 21, 2019

At the GFWC Illinois State Convention in May, clubs and individual members entered filled purses for the GFWC Illinois Purse Contest. They were displayed on tables in the convention meeting room by the categories: “Pamper Yourself,” “Personal Care,” “Collections,” “In the Kitchen,” “Crafts,” “Celebrations,” “Small, but Special,” “It’s an Original,” and “Other.” Some of the purses were used as centerpieces at the Opening Luncheon. When club members registered, they received 5 tickets to vote for their favorite purses. Handmade ribbons were presented to the winning purses in each category. A “People’s Choice Award” silver ribbon was presented for the purse receiving the most votes overall.  The Northwest Suburban Woman’s Club received this award for their purse entry “Let’s Go Out for a Treat!” The seventy-six filled purses were then donated to domestic violence shelters throughout Illinois. This project was suggested by the GFWC Signature Project Committee and will benefit many women and children who are survivors of domestic violence living in shelters.

The Woman’s Club of Point Pleasant (New Jersey) is excited to embark on a new project of creating “Operation Cuddly Comfort” Therapy Dolls for patients with memory loss. One way to calm and soothe agitated seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia is to give them a soft, lifelike baby doll to cuddle. For many women and men, the dolls can bring back happy memories of early parenthood. Some even adopt the baby as their own and make caring for it a part of their daily routine, helping reduce feelings of isolation. The program is funded through donations, so patients will receive them at no cost. Club members are making clothing, blankets, and hats to send with the babies. Recently, the Woman’s Club of Point Pleasant had their first ‘Delivery Day’ at Leisure Park. Eleven ‘babies’ were delivered. Each ‘new mother’ received a doll in a unique outfit, a hand crocheted blanket and hat, an extra outfit for pajamas, a pacifier, and a birth certificate. Each mother named her baby and the names were inscribed on the certificate. Club members found it heartwarming to see these women cuddle, kiss, rock, and sing to their babies.

Committee Member Sharon Hattenbach dresses a Comfort Doll.

The GFWC Woman’s Citizenship Club (Colorado) distributing donor boxes and over a period of four and a half months, collected and shipped 573 pairs of shoes to Soles4Souls as part of GFWC’s Seven Grand Initiatives. They are proud of their community for donating such a large number of shoes to help improve lives!

One hundred and thirty local women’s club affiliated with GFWC New Jersey sponsored delegates for the Girls’ Career Institute (GCI). It’s an opportunity for students completing their junior year of high school to experience college life by attending lectures and networking with other young women at Rutgers University. The delegates were grateful for everything they experienced, from the opportunity to learn about different career paths to the service project where they prepared kits for Days for Girls, which distributes menstrual products to girls around the world who would otherwise have to stay home during their monthly periods instead of pursuing their education.