Volunteers in Action: GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry and GFWC Junto Woman’s Club

April 26, 2022

GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry 

GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry (South Carolina) sponsored a walk to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in March. The walk was led by the Silver Striders, a walking group made up of clubwomen, and included other participants from the community.

Club member Sandy Iams explained planning for the benefit walk began in January with members organizing publicity, local sponsors, and the event itself. The fun-filled day included music, water, light snacks, and other refreshments.

“We were really successful in getting people involved,” she said.

People could donate at a pavilion set up the day of the event or online through the St. Jude event website. Through the generosity of clubwomen and the community, more than $8,240 was raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“We have done this event for a few years, and it has been so successful because we have managed to get the community involved,” Sandy said. “This is something that is very near and dear to our hearts. Helping children is so important.”

 

 

GFWC Junto Woman’s Club 

For 20 years, members of the GFWC Junto Woman’s Club (Virginia) have been working with the Meals on Wheels of Suffolk & Isle of Wight, Inc. to ensure housebound individuals have access to healthy meals each week. Clubwoman Nancy Sullivan explained the club exclusively delivers on Thursdays and members travel in pairs to deliver the meals for safety and camaraderie. The food is all prepared locally and the meals take into consideration whether the recipient is diabetic, has certain restrictions, or has individual preferences.

The woman’s club first formed this partnership after members learned that three of their fellow clubwomen were already volunteering with Meals on Wheels. After the initial interest was piqued, the project grew from there. Now, Nancy said they have been participating for so long that the project is ingrained in the club.

“The community relies on us,” she said. “We see this as a real need, and it is a feel-good project that everyone appreciates.”

Last year, GFWC Junto Woman’s Club members logged more than 300 volunteer hours participating in this project.