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| Junior
Women's League of Smithfield
is picking up where others have left off
Gone are stalwarts like the Smithfield Woman's Club and Junior Woman's Club, the Jaycees, the Civitans, and others. One of the factors behind the demise of strictly women's clubs in particular is the welcoming of women into traditional men's clubs like Kiwanis and Rotary. Bucking that trend is the Junior Women's League of Smithfield, established just four years ago but already having a major impact on community endeavors. The club recently sent out a rundown of its recent accomplishments: During the past year it donated $24,500 to a number of community organizations, and its members volunteered a total of 2,376 hours in community service. "Through our two signature fund-raisers, Touch-A-Truck and Big Night Out, we were able to give $8,500 to the Miracle League of Johnston County and $15,000 to the Smithfield Rescue Mission," reports Kelly Blanchard, the club's vice president for fund development. "Through our Letters from Santa initiative," she continued, "we were able to give $1,050 to Interfaith Food Shuttle to sponsor Backpack Buddies for three Johnston County children for an entire year." Meanwhile, club members volunteered as builders of Habitat for Humanity homes, "baseball buddies" for handicapped Miracle League players, assisting Interfaith Food Shuttle's "mobile market," and helped "at events like 5Ks and galas hosted by our partner organizations," reports Austin Yansom, vice president for community outreach and engagement. "When you consider that volunteer time is valued at $25.43 per hour, that's an additional $60,000 impact" since August of last year, Ms. Yansom added. Beyond volunteer hours, the club's members have contributed in other ways, she noted, including school-supply and coat drives for children at My Kid's Club, donation of items for families served by the Me Fine Foundation, providing food for women and children at Harbor and also for clients and visitors at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield.  The
Junior Women's League also challenges its newest
members to undertake new projects. This past year the
club's "provisional class" completed two projects
related to "food insecurity" in Johnston County:
publication of a club members' cookbook entitled Tried
& True: From Our Homes to Yours and the
installation of five "Blessing Boxes" stocked with
free food and personal-care items for persons in need.Kristen Brown and Kelsey Carter-Daniels were co-chairs of the cookbook project. Emily Johnson chaired the committee that did the Blessing Boxes. "Our members have worked tirelessly this year to meet the needs of the community," said Cat Webster, 2018-19 club president, "We must also thank the many individuals and businesses in our community who have supported our efforts by attending our events, stepping up as sponsors or donors, and wholeheartedly embraced JWL and its mission." The Junior Women's League of Smithfield is accepting applications from prospective members age 22 and older who have an interest in serving Johnston County until August 1. For more information about membership, visit the club's website at www.jwlsmithfield.com. |
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