Volunteers in Action: GFWC Woman’s Club of Denville Rockaway and GFWC Women’s Civic League, Inc.

September 14, 2021

GFWC Woman’s Club of Denville Rockaway 

Members of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Denville Rockaway (New Jersey) came together this year to support the Joey Bella Memorial Fund. This nonprofit organization was started in 1988 and aims to support local families trying to cope with caring for an ill or injured child through financial assistance and emotional support.

Susan Richardson, a member of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Denville Rockaway who works with the Joey Bella Memorial Fund, said the organization hosts a “Tricky Tray” fundraising event each year to raise money to help the families in need.

“This is our biggest fundraiser for the organization,” Susan said. A “Tricky Tray” event is a combination of a silent auction and a raffle in which participants can purchase tickets to enter for the chance to win various prizes.

Although the event has been taking place for many years, Susan said this is the third year the woman’s club has been involved by organizing donated items into gift baskets and helping sell tickets during the event, which took place on September 11.

She said 10 clubwomen participated and donated 246 combined hours of their time.

“They worked hard and they became really dedicated to the cause,” Susan said. “…They were very generous with their time and items that went into the baskets.”

The gift baskets included items donated by local businesses and organizations, as well as some club members. In total, more than 200 baskets were put together for the “Tricky Tray” event.

Susan said it was wonderful to see everyone working together to raise money to help families facing difficult situations in the community.

 

GFWC Women’s Civic League, Inc. 

On July 27, an informal ribbon cutting ceremony was held for a new Little Free Library at the Utah State University-Tremonton campus. The GFWC Women’s Civic League, Inc. (Utah), and Utah State University worked together to donate materials to build and fill the Little Free Library that will now house books for people of all ages.

GFWC Utah State President and GFWC Women’s Civic League, Inc. member Linda Kuwana said when trying to think of a good project to promote reading and education, clubwomen agreed this would be a great opportunity.

“We tried to make it something everybody could use, and it is available for everybody,” she said. “…We felt like (the library) benefitted the community as a whole and we are trying to encourage more reading for adults and kids.”

Linda explained the local library has limited hours and that some families are unable to take their children there when it is open, and this Little Free Library will hopefully offer a solution.

“Being such a small town, libraries open later in the day, but this is open all day long,” she said. “It’s a convenience to all people.”