Volunteers in Action: GFWC Junto Woman’s Club, GFWC du Midi Woman’s Club, GFWC Anchorage Woman’s Club, GFWC Illinois Morris Woman’s Club, and GFWC Hopkinton Women’s Club

March 23, 2021

GFWC Junto Woman’s Club (Virginia)

Last October, nineteen GFWC Junto Woman’s Club (Virginia) members and several of their spouses partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance (NRPA) in Suffolk, Virginia, to construct Oyster Reef Baskets. These baskets are scheduled to be placed in the Nansemond River in late March and early April. According to the NRPA, establishing an oyster garden can be beneficial to the environment because these shellfish help filter bacteria, nutrients, and suspended solids from water. After the success of the club working with the NRPA for the first phase of the Oyster Reef Project, several more members will be joining the second part of the project by putting together oyster shell mesh bags that will be used as substrates and installed along the river.

In addition to the Oyster Reef Project, several GFWC Junto Woman’s Club members serve on the NRPA Board of Directors and the Water Quality Committee and have participated in trips down the Nansemond River to take water samples for testing. The club first became a community partner with the NRPA in 2018, as many members live along the river, and have continued to work with them on projects since.

 

GFWC du Midi Woman’s Club (Alabama)

Clubwomen with GFWC du Midi Woman’s Club (Alabama) put on their masks and went shopping for a variety of outfits for infants and toddlers who may need an emergency change of clothes during clinic visits with GFWC Affiliate Organization St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Affiliate Clinic of Huntsville, Alabama. A total of 131 sets of new infant and toddler clothing outfits, along with 42 pairs of underwear and 33 pairs of socks valued at more than $2,000 was donated during the club’s monthly drop off. The Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children Chairperson washed, dried, ironed, sorted, and packaged each outfit for safety before they were delivered. Club members support a variety of projects for St. Jude, including keeping the clinic’s “Treasure Chest” filled with books, craft kits, and gift cards for ages one to 18.

 

GFWC Anchorage Woman’s Club (Alaska)

GFWC Anchorage Woman’s Club (Alaska) clubwomen decided to “Give from the Heart” during the month of February. Club members donated $1,000 that was matched by ISE Logistics. The $2,000 check was presented to the Alaska Food Bank at the historic Pioneer School House. The club offered their thanks to all members who participated, and a special thanks to Ken Gitter.

 

GFWC Illinois Morris Woman’s Club (Illinois)

GFWC Illinois Morris Woman’s Club (Illinois) prepared 50 “kindness bags” for the adults and children being housed by Guardian Angels of Will and Grundy Counties for Valentine’s Day. Since many of survivors of domestic abuse leave their situation with only the clothes on their backs, they have little to entertain themselves and their children while sheltering. The adult bags contained personal hygiene and pampering items as well as things to occupy their time, such as cards, puzzle books, and more. The kids’ bags contained age-appropriate toys, books, and pampering items for teens. All of the bags also contained snacks.

 

GFWC Hopkinton Women’s Club (Massachusetts)

GFWC Hopkinton Women’s Club (Massachusetts) did their part to participate in the GFWC Signature Program: Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention by assembling and donating 30 “care bags” to Compassion New England Crisis Center in Milford, Massachusetts. The bags were filled with various personal care items. Compassion New England is a nonprofit organization which works to develop programs and services that meet the needs of families in the community.