 Home
Life
Alberta
M. Durfee, Chairman
P.O. Box 168, Grafton, MA 01519
Click here
for the GFWC Home Life Community Service Program from the GFWC Club
Manual.
Program
Principles
The GFWC Home Life Community Service
Program
- Is designed
to inform members of issues that affect the well-being of individuals,
families, and communities by providing opportunities and resources to
meet and address needs through volunteering.
- Encourages
members to educate themselves and others about financial issues, such
as credit scores, philanthropic giving, identity theft, personal
finances and social security.
- In the
spirit of GFWC, the Home Life Community Service Program continues to
provide resources to identify and address needs related to wellness of
women, children, disabled, and the elderly, housing, and the
homeless.
Goal
Develop
creative projects that promote a healthy lifestyle or increase
awareness, prevention and treatment of disease, address the issues of
hunger and homelessness, and/or prevent or correct financial
difficulties.
Action Plan
Educate
Yourself
- Meet with
civic leaders and those who provide services to the community to assess
and quantify specific needs of local citizens. Research
problems in your community that are largely un-addressed, and identify
the underserved in your area.
- Request
information from GFWC Partners and resources, and make use of the
information and assistance they provide.
Inform
Others
- Share and
provide information obtained from GFWC Partners and resources with
members and the
community.
Collaborations
- Research,
plan, and implement projects, programs, and advocacy based on the
club’s interests and the needs that the club members believe
are important.
- Clubs should
report the projects that they have developed so that as an organization
GFWC can determine where
members’ interests lie and the
information can be used in working with and recruiting new GFWC
Partners.
Partners
- GFWC
Partners are organizations that operate at the national or
international level and offer unique and customized services such as
project materials, speakers, kits, and/or additional information
specifically designed for GFWC clubs to enhance the effectiveness of
the GFWC Community Service Programs and Special Projects within their
communities. These partners are aware of GFWC
clubs’ specific needs and our club structure.
Collaborative
Projects
- A club
sold hundreds of potted pansies on the common in their
town. A group of people from the town helped with this
project. Money raised was donated for pancreatic cancer
research.
- A GFWC of
Massachusetts club worked with members of another club to raise money
for a local camp for children suffering from diabetes. Money
raised was donated for much needed improvements at the camp.
- Club members
worked with members of another non-profit organization in their
community and made lap robes to be used by disabled residents
at a local nursing home.
- Club members
worked with Heavenly Hats, a nonprofit organization that donates hats
to cancer patients who lose their hair due to cancer or other medical
conditions. The club approached local merchants for help and they
donated materials for the hats. The club held a hat making
workshop and held a ‘Hat Parade’ at a
club meeting. More than 100 hats were donated to local
hospitals. www.HeavenlyHats.com.
- Club members
visited the GFWC Weight Loss Challenge page at www.GFWC.org for weight
loss tips and found out how other club women were faring in their
weight loss efforts. Their club initiated a weight loss
challenge in their own club and kept track of pounds lost.
- A club visited www.GFWC.org
for
fact sheets regarding good hygiene practices and
supplies to have on hand during a pandemic. They learned
specific, simple steps that club members could take to stay healthy and
distributed information at places of worship, schools, and senior
centers.
Partnership
Projects
THE ALZHEIMER’S
ASSOCIATION
This organization is on a mission to
eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of
research. Work with a local nursing or convalescent home by
having your club become a ‘Special Angel’ to a
resident with no family members. Help support residents by
organizing music, programs, send cards or flowers on special
occasions. www.ALZ.org.
CANINE
COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE
Dedicated
to placing highly trained assistance dogs with professional caregivers
and people with disabilities, and ensuring the success of the working
team through continued follow-up. 2010 is CCI’s
35th birthday. Help them celebrate by supporting them and
being involved in their program. Visit website www.CCI.org.
EASTER
SEALS
Help people with disabilities!
Example projects are sewing occupational vests for children and
Cartridges for Kids recycling program. Go to www.EasterSeals.com.
HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL
There
is a real need for volunteers. Help Line at 800-422-4828 for
the Habitat affiliate nearest you. Celebrate
Women’s Build Week. To learn more see www.Habitat.org/wb.
MARCH
OF DIMES
March of Dimes is a nonprofit, voluntary
health organization committed to improving the health of babies by
preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Baskets for
Babies! Assemble baskets of much needed items for local
Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Click here
to see what GFWC of Massachusetts contributed to this project on
October 6, 2011 at Club Institute. March of Dimes will recognize
local GFWC members for their participation. For other events
go to www.MarchofDimes.org/GFWC.
NATIONAL
HEART
LUNG AND BLOOD INSTITUTE
To make women aware of the
danger of heart disease, the NHLBI is sponsoring a national campaign
called The Heart Truth. Plan a club event –
download the Heart Truth Online Toolkit that contains all of the
information, ideas, and materials you need. E: NHLBInfo@NHLBI.HIH.gov
NATIONAL
OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
The NOF is the leading
consumer and community-focused health organization dedicated to the
prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones and the promotion of strong
bones for life. Hold a Bone China Tea for club members as a
fundraiser. Visit www.NOF.org
for more information.
WOMEN’S
INSTITUTE FOR A SECURE RETIREMENT
It is a non-profit
organization. Their goal is to work to provide low and
moderate income women with basic information to help them take
financial control over their lives. Clubs can organize a
financial workshop for such groups as retirees, parents, or college
students.
Go to www.WiserWomen.org.
AWARDS
Club
A
$50 award will be given annually to one club in the nation to recognize
creativity in implementing an effective Home Life Community Service
Collaboration Program. Also, a $50 award will be given annually to one
club in the nation to recognize creativity in implementing an effective
Community Service Partnership Program. The awards are based
on narrative reports. Massachusetts state chairmen will submit their
completed reports to the Massachusetts Second Vice President at the end
of the report writing workshop Saturday, February 6.
State
GFWC
awards will be presented annually to one state federation in each GFWC
membership category to recognize outstanding achievement in both the
Home Life Community Service Collaboration Program and the Home Life
Community Partnership Programs.
|
contact us