GFWC Ohio

“Each of us is a part of a larger society and is responsible for undertaking actions that will create a better quality of life and foster a sense of community…” “Volunteering is one of the best ways to put civic duty into action and it is often the first step in building a stronger connection to community, but there are other ways to contribute, such as advocating, fundraising or donating, and problem solving.” (GFWC Club Manual)

 

GFWC is emphasizing a COMMUNITY CONNECTION INITIATIVE:  A” Little Thanks Goes a Long way.”

There is a page in the GFWC Club manual which gives your clubs ideas on how to advocate and give thanks to the essential workers in your community.  Essential workers include many fields of work including medical care providers, first responders, teachers, civil service employees, famers, truckers, utility workers and MANY more.  There are also MANY ways to advocate for their efforts.

 

There are four important areas of Civic Engagement and Outreach:

• Citizenship

• Crime Prevention, Safety, and Disaster Preparedness

• The Needy, Hungry, and Homeless

• Our Military Personnel and Veterans

(GFWC Ohio’s President Yvonne Ford’s special Project is Supporting and Aiding Women Veterans which falls into this group.)

 Again, there are many project ideas in the GFWC Club Manual.

 GFWC no longer has “Partners.”  They are now called “AFFLIATE ORGANIZATIONS.”  Work with these organizations can apply in multiple Community Service Programs.  Those especially pertinent to Civic Engagement and Outreach are:

 

• Canine Companions

• March of Dimes

• Operation Smile

• St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

• United Nations Foundation Shot @Life Campaign

• UNICEF USA

 Addition resources can also be found in the GFWC Club Manual.

 

CITIZENSHIP:

• American Legion

• Freedom Factor

• League of Women Voter       

CRIME PREVENTION, SAFETY, AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:

• Consumer Product Safety Commission

• National Safety Council

• National Crime Prevention Council

• USA GOV

 THE NEEDY, HUNGRY AND HOMELESS

• Family Promise

• Habitat for Humanity

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• National Council on Ageing

• National Coalition for the Homeless

• The Right to Shower

OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS

SUPPORT AND AID WOMEN VETERANS

• Fisher House Foundation

• Honor Flight Network

• National Women Veterans United

• Quilts of Valor Foundation

• U. S. Department of Veteran Affairs

• USO

• Wreathes Across America

 

These are not the only resources, nor are the ideas given in the GFWC Club Manual the only ideas.  Fit your projects to the needs of your community.