GFWC News & Notes
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GFWC’s weekly e-newsletter News & Notes keeps clubwomen, partners, and friends up-to-date on all the latest GFWC programs, projects, and issues.
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GFWC Style Guide
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GFWC News & Notes featuring Massachusetts Leaders
► GFWC Massachusetts President, Jen Nowak was featured in the May 1, 2025 GFWC News & Notes.
► GFWC Director of Junior Clubs, Beth McKeon was featured in the February 19, 2026 GFWC News & Notes.
► GFWC Director of Junior Clubs, Beth McKeon was featured in the February 19, 2026 GFWC News & Notes.
GFWC News & Notes Blog ~ Volunteers in Action
GFWC's weekly blog highlights Volunteers in Action clubs that are in the news.
To view past blogs of GFWC, click here.
Massachusetts clubs that were highlighted in 2026:
Volunteers in Action April 10, 2016
Club representative Jane Cheetham reports, “The GFWC Millbury Women's Club recently held a Patriotic Card Project, open to Grades 1-3 in town. This endeavor was held in conjunction with the 250th birthday of the USA and the 200th Anniversary of the historic Asa Waters Mansion (Millbury, MA). Over 250 pieces of art were collected, and on March 30th, clubwomen hung them for display in the Millbury Public Library. It was wonderful to see all the creativity and patriotism originating from our young community members!”
Volunteers in Action: February 5, 2026
Recently, GFWC Westford Women’s Club took action to address food insecurity in their community. Members held a two-hour service project, stocking shelves and checking expiration dates on items for the Mobile Pantry Program in Lowell, which serves more than 500 elderly and homebound clients who cannot get to a local pantry. Twenty members donated 75 pounds of food to the program. After the tour, the club held its monthly meeting in the new conference room on site. Living the Volunteer Spirit!
Massachusetts clubs that were highlighted in 2025:
►Volunteers in Action: October 9, 2025.
GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club | GFWC Northboro Junior Woman’s Club These two Junior Women’s Clubs teamed up with the Northboro Lions Club in a Meal Packing Event, working with non-profit Rise Against Hunger. These meals contain rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and essential vitamins to support people around the world facing hunger. With all the ingredients they needed delivered by Rise Against Hunger the groups quickly assembled over 10,000 meals that will be sent to communities in need across the globe.
Massachusetts clubs that were highlighted in 2024:
►Volunteers in Action: September 12, 2024.
The GFWC Bay State Contemporary Club members met on August 27th at GFWC MA Headquarters in Sudbury. The goal was to complete the tying of 22 blankets (for children going into foster care) that Massachusetts is bringing to the New England Region Conference to be held September 13-15. Eight blankets were previously completed by members. Eighteen women from across the state, scissors in hand joined from 2:00 – 4:00 to work on this project. We used two different methods to make these kit blankets ~ cut and tied and sewn and cut. Of course, yummy snacks were provided for energy and success was achieved in our two-hour time window.
►Volunteers in Action: March 14, 2024.
To participate in Advocates for Children Week in 2023, members of the GFWC Auburn Junior Woman’s Club worked with CASA, Court-Appointed Special Advocates. AJWC clubwomen came together for one of their biggest and newest projects, allocating $500 to help this worthy nonprofit. The money was spent on duffle bags and important items for foster children in need, especially when they are in transition.
Clubwomen donated to fill the bags to the brim with items from CASA’s wish list: soap, shampoo, blankets, coloring books, crayons, bath and hand towels, hand wipes, books, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues, and stuffed animals. During their monthly meeting, they filled the duffle bags, and two members delivered them to CASA. The members received a tour of the headquarters and spoke with the director.
Massachusetts clubs that were highlighted in 2022:
►Volunteers in Action: October 25, 2022.
After a two-year hiatus, GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club held its third Trunk-or-Treat event on October 23 to kick off GFWC Advocates for Children’s Week. Club member and GFWC Juniors’ Special Program Chairman Katie Robey explained the event recruited businesses and other local nonprofits to pay for a spot in a parking lot to set up their vehicle and decorate it with a Halloween theme. Each business and organization then gave out treats or small toys to kids and their families as they walked around the fun-filled event.
“It was a great way to get the community involved and raise some funds,” Katie said.
Club President Justine Craven Goetz said the Trunk-or-Treat event was a wonderful way for kids to enjoy Halloween safely. She added that about 800 to 900 children attended.
“The day went really well,” Justine said. “It is a great event at so many levels.”
In addition to the treats and toys from local organizations, the club provided games for the children to play, as well as several Halloween-themed photo opportunities and a Membership booth with a treat and information for the adults. Pumpkins provided by a local garden store were also given away for free to attendees and the property owner provided popcorn, coffee, and hot chocolate.
The Marlborough Fire Department also brought a truck and firefighters to talk to the attendees and the Marlborough Police Department came with a vehicle as well as their K9 dog, Meiko, and handed out stickers.
Proceeds from the event will be used to help fund the club’s community service projects
►Volunteers in Action: June 7, 2022.
The GFWC Northboro Junior Woman’s Club celebrated Earth Day this year by giving back to their community. Working in conjunction with Stop & Shop, members set up a table at each entrance of one of the chain’s locations and greeted customers. Club member Mary Anne Bryant explained clubwomen gave out reusable shopping bags to people who didn’t have one, and anyone else who wanted one, and a $5 Stop & Shop gift card to everyone who already had their own reusable shopping bag to thank them for “being green.”
“The store was very excited about working with us because they are very environmentally friendly,” she said. “It was a very successful event.”
In total, Mary Anne said the club gave out more than 100 bags and $125 in gift cards. She added the bags featured a design to recognize Earth Day and promote recycling.
Nancy Coughlin, Environment Committee Co-Chair, said she was happy with the response to the project from both club and community members.
“There was much enthusiasm and kind words from shoppers as they received their gift cards and bags. Many folks are truly committed to helping our planet,” she said.
Mary Anne said the club wanted to organize this project to bring awareness to how much plastic waste people produce and to encourage others to limit how much single-use plastic they are throwing out.
“We have to look out for the Earth for generations to come,” she said.
► Volunteers in Action: April 18, 2022.
For the past six years, members of the Ousamequin Club have been donating toiletry items to Project PACK, a nonprofit organization that assists survivors of sexual assault throughout the state by providing Post-Assault Comfort Kits. Jean Guarino, the club’s recording secretary, said these kits include items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, gum, underwear, and more. Currently, Project PACK collaborates with the Massachusetts Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program to distribute the PACKs to the patients they treat.
To view past blogs of GFWC, click here.
Massachusetts clubs that were highlighted in 2026:
Volunteers in Action April 10, 2016
Club representative Jane Cheetham reports, “The GFWC Millbury Women's Club recently held a Patriotic Card Project, open to Grades 1-3 in town. This endeavor was held in conjunction with the 250th birthday of the USA and the 200th Anniversary of the historic Asa Waters Mansion (Millbury, MA). Over 250 pieces of art were collected, and on March 30th, clubwomen hung them for display in the Millbury Public Library. It was wonderful to see all the creativity and patriotism originating from our young community members!”
Volunteers in Action: February 5, 2026
Recently, GFWC Westford Women’s Club took action to address food insecurity in their community. Members held a two-hour service project, stocking shelves and checking expiration dates on items for the Mobile Pantry Program in Lowell, which serves more than 500 elderly and homebound clients who cannot get to a local pantry. Twenty members donated 75 pounds of food to the program. After the tour, the club held its monthly meeting in the new conference room on site. Living the Volunteer Spirit!
Massachusetts clubs that were highlighted in 2025:
►Volunteers in Action: October 9, 2025.
GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club | GFWC Northboro Junior Woman’s Club These two Junior Women’s Clubs teamed up with the Northboro Lions Club in a Meal Packing Event, working with non-profit Rise Against Hunger. These meals contain rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and essential vitamins to support people around the world facing hunger. With all the ingredients they needed delivered by Rise Against Hunger the groups quickly assembled over 10,000 meals that will be sent to communities in need across the globe.
Massachusetts clubs that were highlighted in 2024:
►Volunteers in Action: September 12, 2024.
The GFWC Bay State Contemporary Club members met on August 27th at GFWC MA Headquarters in Sudbury. The goal was to complete the tying of 22 blankets (for children going into foster care) that Massachusetts is bringing to the New England Region Conference to be held September 13-15. Eight blankets were previously completed by members. Eighteen women from across the state, scissors in hand joined from 2:00 – 4:00 to work on this project. We used two different methods to make these kit blankets ~ cut and tied and sewn and cut. Of course, yummy snacks were provided for energy and success was achieved in our two-hour time window.
►Volunteers in Action: March 14, 2024.
To participate in Advocates for Children Week in 2023, members of the GFWC Auburn Junior Woman’s Club worked with CASA, Court-Appointed Special Advocates. AJWC clubwomen came together for one of their biggest and newest projects, allocating $500 to help this worthy nonprofit. The money was spent on duffle bags and important items for foster children in need, especially when they are in transition.
Clubwomen donated to fill the bags to the brim with items from CASA’s wish list: soap, shampoo, blankets, coloring books, crayons, bath and hand towels, hand wipes, books, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues, and stuffed animals. During their monthly meeting, they filled the duffle bags, and two members delivered them to CASA. The members received a tour of the headquarters and spoke with the director.
Massachusetts clubs that were highlighted in 2022:
►Volunteers in Action: October 25, 2022.
After a two-year hiatus, GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club held its third Trunk-or-Treat event on October 23 to kick off GFWC Advocates for Children’s Week. Club member and GFWC Juniors’ Special Program Chairman Katie Robey explained the event recruited businesses and other local nonprofits to pay for a spot in a parking lot to set up their vehicle and decorate it with a Halloween theme. Each business and organization then gave out treats or small toys to kids and their families as they walked around the fun-filled event.
“It was a great way to get the community involved and raise some funds,” Katie said.
Club President Justine Craven Goetz said the Trunk-or-Treat event was a wonderful way for kids to enjoy Halloween safely. She added that about 800 to 900 children attended.
“The day went really well,” Justine said. “It is a great event at so many levels.”
In addition to the treats and toys from local organizations, the club provided games for the children to play, as well as several Halloween-themed photo opportunities and a Membership booth with a treat and information for the adults. Pumpkins provided by a local garden store were also given away for free to attendees and the property owner provided popcorn, coffee, and hot chocolate.
The Marlborough Fire Department also brought a truck and firefighters to talk to the attendees and the Marlborough Police Department came with a vehicle as well as their K9 dog, Meiko, and handed out stickers.
Proceeds from the event will be used to help fund the club’s community service projects
►Volunteers in Action: June 7, 2022.
The GFWC Northboro Junior Woman’s Club celebrated Earth Day this year by giving back to their community. Working in conjunction with Stop & Shop, members set up a table at each entrance of one of the chain’s locations and greeted customers. Club member Mary Anne Bryant explained clubwomen gave out reusable shopping bags to people who didn’t have one, and anyone else who wanted one, and a $5 Stop & Shop gift card to everyone who already had their own reusable shopping bag to thank them for “being green.”
“The store was very excited about working with us because they are very environmentally friendly,” she said. “It was a very successful event.”
In total, Mary Anne said the club gave out more than 100 bags and $125 in gift cards. She added the bags featured a design to recognize Earth Day and promote recycling.
Nancy Coughlin, Environment Committee Co-Chair, said she was happy with the response to the project from both club and community members.
“There was much enthusiasm and kind words from shoppers as they received their gift cards and bags. Many folks are truly committed to helping our planet,” she said.
Mary Anne said the club wanted to organize this project to bring awareness to how much plastic waste people produce and to encourage others to limit how much single-use plastic they are throwing out.
“We have to look out for the Earth for generations to come,” she said.
► Volunteers in Action: April 18, 2022.
For the past six years, members of the Ousamequin Club have been donating toiletry items to Project PACK, a nonprofit organization that assists survivors of sexual assault throughout the state by providing Post-Assault Comfort Kits. Jean Guarino, the club’s recording secretary, said these kits include items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, gum, underwear, and more. Currently, Project PACK collaborates with the Massachusetts Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program to distribute the PACKs to the patients they treat.