On Thursday afternoon, September 10th, the community service program chairmen of the Wilmington Woman’s Club met in the parking lot of the NC Sorosis Clubhouse to collect food and personal and school items as fellow members drove through and dropped off their donations. Based on their current needs and on-line wish lists, three area nonprofits were selected to receive the items, donated by 23 members of the Wilmington Woman’s Club.
In August with the Good Shepherd Center resuming a first-come first-serve free food give-away program one day a week, grocery items were needed to provide food to a greater number of individuals and families. The members of the WWC donated 186 items that included breakfast foods such as cereal, oatmeal, and grits, instant rice and potatoes, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, vegetable and canola oil, and cans of fruits, vegetables, and beans. These items valued at $359.00 will hopefully contribute to more individuals receiving a much needed meal.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the Domestic Violence Shelter has seen an increased number of clients due to the state mandate to “stay at home.” With the loss of employment and the closer proximity of families in confined spaces, more cases of abuse have been reported. As the number of clients increased, there were “more mouths to feed.” Snacks including microwavable soup/pasta, crackers, granola bars, pudding cups, juice boxes, and snack-size bags of chips were provided. In addition, non-perishable items such as deodorant, bar soap, full size shampoo and conditioner, and toothbrushes and toothpaste were included in the 586 items donated to the Domestic Violence Shelter, an in-kind donation of $709.00.
The third agency receiving assistance from the WWC is Communities in Schools. Although several churches and civic organizations have already donated school items through various avenues, the need for more school supplies still exists. Although children may be engaged in remote learning, they need materials with which to complete their assignments. 344 items valued at $367.00 included notebook paper, composition books, one subject notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, colored markers, colored pencils, crayons, colored folders, and pencil boxes and zippered holders.
Since 1964 the purpose of the Wilmington Woman’s Club has been “to furnish its members the means and opportunities for social contact, mental improvement, amusement, and recreation; to organize, conduct and carry on various plans, efforts, and undertakings for the general, moral and physical well-being and improvement of its members and the community in which they live.” Through volunteerism the membership has been able to uphold this purpose. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and the limitations it imposes on the WWC members being able to interact beyond a limited scope of individuals, the members of the Wilmington Woman’s Club are using creative ideas to continue to meet the needs of the local community.
Article contributed by Carol Query, 2020 WWC First Vice-President / Coordinator of Community Service Programs