Education and Libraries Community Service Program

Education and Libraries Community Service Program

SEEDS Reads Program

The GFWC Fine Arts Club of Bruce (MS) collaborated with the University of Mississippi’s SEEDS Reads Program about food insecurity and food-based STEM education. Members assisted with distributing weekly packets containing lunches and a food-based STEM activity with supplies and a book for children. STEM activities were literary-themed, based on Jack and the Beanstalk and The Pop Corn Dragon. Four hundred lunches and packets were delivered to various places.

Holiday Readings

The GFWC Gallipolis Junior Woman’s Club (OH) created 25 days of Holiday Readings when Santa had to be quarantined due to COVID-19. Various community partners, including Santa, read holiday stories to the community to promote literacy. There was a drawing each evening for viewers and five or more books were gifted each night with more than 250 children receiving books throughout the 25 days.

Votes for Women

The GFWC Kansas City Athenaeum (MO) collaborated with the Kansas City Public Library to sponsor, design, and print 5,000 coloring books celebrating the 19^th Amendment. It depicted eight women from the area active in the suffrage movement. The coloring books were freely given to visiting students and to Girl Scout troops working on their “Votes for Women” badge. A program, using the coloring book, was presented by club members to Missouri Girl’s Town.

Recess Backpack Project

The GFWC Women’s Club of Farmingdale (NY) helped a young activist promote socially-distanced recess by providing individual items for students for the Recess Backpack Project. Club members purchased chalk, yo-yo’s, jump ropes, and other items to fill the mesh backpacks for 82 students to use at recess.

Laundry Library League

The GFWC Parkersburg Woman’s Club (WV) initiated the first Laundry Library League in their state. The club partnered with the organization to provide children’s books in laundromats with a total of 120 books to start the first library. Members began book drives and collected, purchased, and stamped the Library Laundry League’s logo on each book. The 19 club members rotate weekly to maintain the library.

Drive by Donation Day

The GFWC Southwest Region Woman’s Club (CO) adapted their annual school supply drive to a “Drive by Donation Day.” The club partnered with a local organization to set up collection sites to gather school supplies. Their collection resulted in members packing and donating backpacks of supplies to 3,900 children.

Little Free Library

The GFWC Tifton 20^th Century Woman’s Club (GA) received 20 used metal newspaper boxes from the local newspaper. The club creatively repurposed the boxes into Little Free Libraries. They hosted decorating parties with members and local Girl Scout troops, who repurposed the boxes to be placed throughout the community with free books.

Festival of Books

The GFWC Brookings Club (SD) adapted their annual state Festival of Books. The festival typically rotates throughout various towns, but this year members and guests were able to register for online events and attend remote author meet and greets. These were recorded and are available to view.

Best Gala that Won’t Happen

The GFWC Evening Chapter of Mesquite Club of Las Vegas (NV) adapted their annual holiday craft charity auction, which funds student scholarships, to the “Best Gala that Won’t Happen” event. Invitations were sent and donors were asked to cozy up at home and send donations to the scholarship fund if they were able. Three female high school seniors are chosen to receive the $1,500 scholarships. Funds were raised for both the current and next scholarship year.

Literary Pumpkin Decorating

The GFWC Sebastian Woman’s Club (FL) donated 43 pumpkins to an elementary school for a literary pumpkin decorating contest. Each classroom was able to read a story and decorate the pumpkin based on a book character. Members chose the top four out of the top ten receiving votes. The first place class, having decorated their pumpkin based on Miss Spider’s Tea Party, was given treats, pizza, and ice cream by the club.