HOME LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

Transcription

1 GFWC CLUB MANUAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM THE GFWC COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INFORM MEMBERS OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES by provdng opportuntes and resources to meet and address needs through volunteerng. Through ths program, clubs may develop and mplement creatve projects that promote a healthy lfestyle ncrease awareness, preventon, research, and treatment of dsease; target personal development; address the ssues of hunger, nadequate housng, and homelessness; and/or prevent or correct fnancal dffcultes. Program deas are endless. Consder projects that address ssues such as women s health, theft preventon, servce dog programs, people wth dsabltes, healthy lfestyles, and chldcare. We have partnered wth lke-mnded organzatons that affect the well-beng of ndvduals, famles, and communtes. Refer to the Partnershp secton begnnng on page 5 for actvtes desgned especally for GFWC clubs. Vst for updates and more nformaton COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM Tamme McCoy, Charman 177 West Oxford Street Pontotoc, MS mcco3938@bellsouth.net GFWC COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS GFWC Communty Servce Projects are projects that members ntate and partcpate n to serve ther communtes they do not nclude projects that relate to GFWC partners. These projects are specfcally related to the Home Lfe Communty Servce Program and may nvolve other members of the communty, other organzatons, or the ndvdual club or members. Drect any questons regardng projects that do not nvolve GFWC partners to the Home Lfe Communty Servce Program Charman or GFWC Programs Department at Programs@GFWC.org. SOUP-ER BOWL SATURDAY GFWC South Brunswck Islands Club (NC) hosted an Empty Bowl Event (SOUP-er Bowl Saturday) to help feed the hungry. Area restaurants, caterers, and club members made soup and bread. Attendees receved a handcrafted soup bowl made by local potters as a memento. The club partnered wth a local newspaper to promote and support the event.

2 SLEEPING MATS FOR THE HOMELESS GFWC Intermedate League of Butler (PA) collected 11,000 recycled plastc garbage bags, cut them nto strps, wove the strps to form a ball of plastc yarn and then crocheted them nto sx foot long sleepng mats. These mats helped mprove the sleepng condtons of the homeless by keepng mosture away from the body, creatng heat, and provdng a soft place to sleep. EDUCATIONAL BOOKMARKS GFWC Women s Cvc League of Cheyenne (WY) created and prnted bookmarks wth nformaton on the dangers of prescrpton drug abuse. The nformaton encouraged people to lock up ther medcatons, fnd the locaton of a secure Drop Box for medcaton dsposal, taught how to otherwse dspose of unneeded medcatons, and ncluded nformaton on the State Medcaton Donaton program. Bookmarks were dstrbuted to all local pharmaces and were enclosed n the bags wth medcatons when pharmacsts flled prescrptons. ROLLING LIBRARY PROGRAM FOR HOMEBOUND SENIORS Woman s Club of South County (RI) helped senors connected wth the Meals on Wheels Program. Questonnares were sent out to the Meals partcpants, askng f they would be nterested n havng books brought to ther home and what books would they lke to read. The lbraran at the local lbrary pcked out books that were deemed approprate and members delvered the books on a desgnated day each month. In addton to delverng the books, the volunteers vsted wth the shut-ns. IDEAS Program deas are endless. Below s a lst of deas on how clubs may support the Home Lfe Communty Servce Program. Assess and quantfy specfc needs of local ctzens. Research problems n your communty that are largely unaddressed and dentfy those who are underserved. Work on programs and projects that focus on addressng the dentfed needs. Promote the acquston of correct health and safety nformaton from the Centers for Dsease Control and Preventon at Plan programs on women s heart health. Expand the programs beyond the club level to nvolve the communty. Utlze nformaton located at for program deas. Sponsor a Natonal Wear Red Day celebraton (frst Frday n February each year). Learn the basc facts about gynecologc cancer, ncludng rsk factors and screenng optons. Establsh nformaton sharng sessons and utlze resources located at Plan programs on breast cancer awareness. Offer free mammograms to the needy. Organze and/or partcpate n health fars and forums. Learn about proper medcaton utlzaton and the ssues wth prescrpton drug addcton. Create a resource lst of local women s clncs and health centers and dstrbute t n publc areas such as shelters, places of worshp, and lbrares. Educate club members and the communty regardng the Make the Frst Fve Count Intatve. Vst for nformaton. Vst the autsm webste to learn more about autsm. Utlze the knowledge to educate others wthn the communty. Incorporate ftness actvtes nto your club and communty actvtes, ncludng walkng or yoga. Sponsor a fun run. Start an exercse group n your club, then ntate a weght loss challenge n your club and keep track of pounds lost. copyrght 2016 General Federaton of Women s Clubs 2

3 Promote healthy self-esteem and self-worth. Organze fnancal workshops for women, retrees, sngle parents, and/or college students. Work wth local food banks and homeless shelters to provde needed donatons, stock shelves, and provde other volunteer servces. Work wth local agences that provde supportve servces to the homeless and mentally challenged by volunteerng at fundrasers and local events. Partner wth a local nursng home or mental health faclty to enhance the qualty of lfe for the elderly and dsabled. Organze clothng drves. Partner wth other local agences to dstrbute to the needy. Sponsor PSAs that wll expand the dstrbuton of nformaton related to club programs and projects. Support the ntatves of our partners. Utlze resources to enhance programs and projects. GFWC RESOURCES NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD S THE HEART TRUTH W: Contact: Monque Ndenecho P: E: Monque.ndenecho@nh.gov The Heart Truth sponsored by the Natonal Heart, Lung, and Blood Insttute (NHLBI), part of the Natonal Insttutes of Health, s a natonal educaton program for women that rases awareness about heart dsease and ts rsk factors and educates and motvates them to take acton to prevent the dsease. Through ths program, the NHLBI leads the Naton n a landmark heart health movement embraced by mllons who share the common goal of better heart health for all women. The centerpece of The Heart Truth s The Red Dress, whch was created by the NHLBI and ntroduced as the natonal symbol for women and heart dsease awareness n The Red Dress s a powerful red alert that nspres women to learn more about ther personal rsk for heart dsease and take acton to protect ther heart health. Examples of communty-based actvtes GFWC members can plan and carry out nclude: Health fars that rsk factor screenngs and offer educatonal materals on women s heart dsease, and rsk factor management and reducton Fun walk/run to promote The Heart Truth and ts key messages Natonal Wear Red Day celebratons (frst Frday n February each year) The Heart Truth educatonal sesson for women, usng The Heart Truth Speaker s Kt (whch may be held n a varety of communty settngs, such as a hosptal, workplace, lbrary, church, YMCA/YWCA, health department, communty clnc, etc.) The Red Dress SM Sunday/Sabbath servce at local churches or synagogues to rase awareness about women s heart dsease Brown-bag lunch featurng The Heart Truth educaton sesson and dscusson Heart healthy food cookng demonstratons or cookng classes The Heart Truth, ts Red Dress logo, and The Red Dress are regstered trademarks of HHS. Red Dress s a servce mark of HHS. Natonal Wear Red Day s a regstered trademark of HHS and AHA. copyrght 2016 General Federaton of Women s Clubs 3

4 INSIDE KNOWLEDGE: GET THE FACTS ABOUT GYNECOLOGIC CANCER CAMPAIGN W: Contacts: Jennfer Chu P: E: The Insde Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologc Cancer campagn educates women and health care provders about the fve most common types of gynecologc cancer: cervcal, ovaran, uterne, vagnal, and vulvar. Ths ntatve was developed by the Centers for Dsease Control and Preventon and supports the Gynecologc Cancer Educaton and Awareness Act of 2005, or Johanna s Law, passed unanmously by Congress n 2006, and sgned nto law n Gynecologc cancer s any cancer that starts n a woman s reproductve organs. Each year n the Unted States, about 71,500 women are dagnosed wth a gynecologc cancer and approxmately 26,500 women de from one. Each gynecologc cancer s unque and has dfferent sgns, symptoms, rsk factors, and preventon strateges. Insde Knowledge offers nformaton and resources n Englsh and Spansh to women and health care provders about rsk factors, symptoms, and preventon strateges assocated wth each of the cancers. Order free Insde Knowledge materals drectly through the campagn s onlne publcaton orderng system ( and dstrbute them among fellow members of your club and communty. Host a presentaton or semnar on gynecologc cancers usng Insde Knowledge nformaton and resources, ncludng educatonal prnt materals as well as prnt, televson, and rado nformatonal publc servce announcements (PSAs). These PSAs feature women who urge us to pay attenton to our bodes, and they provde nformaton on when t s approprate to see a medcal professonal. Promote the campagn s resources, ncludng PSAs (whch can be vewed at to local and regonal meda such as televson and rado statons, daly and weekly newspapers, magaznes, and newsletters. Promote awareness of Insde Knowledge and ts resources all through the year, but especally durng: Natonal Cervcal Cancer Awareness Month (January) Mother s Day (May) Natonal Gynecologc Cancer Awareness Month and Natonal Ovaran Cancer Awareness Month (September) ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Explore optons to help wth Feedng Amerca by gong to and learn ways you can support n your communty, state, and naton. Learn more about Amercan Cancer Socety ntatves by gong to Promote awareness of dabetes by gong to and and utlze those resources to help your communty. Work to promote Alzhemer s dsease awareness by gong to Assst n buldng homes for those n need by gong to copyrght 2016 General Federaton of Women s Clubs 4

5 GFWC PARTNERSHIPS GFWC partners are the organzatons lsted wth whom GFWC has establshed a formal relatonshp and mutual understandng. Our partners offer unque and customzed servces: materals, speakers, kts, and/or addtonal nformaton specfcally desgned for GFWC clubs. They are aware of GFWC clubs specfc needs, our organzatonal structure, and have a sgned Memorandum of Understandng wth GFWC. GFWC partners wll assst n montorng the donatons generated by GFWC members. To ensure that donatons to GFWC partner organzatons at the ndvdual, club, dstrct, or state level are reflected toward GFWC s collectve mpact, make sure to wrte GFWC n the memo lne on your donaton check. Drect any questons regardng donatons to GFWC partners to Home Lfe Communty Servce Program Charman or GFWC Programs Department at Programs@GFWC.org. Canne Companons s the oldest and largest assstance dog program provdng traned dogs for chldren, adults, and veterans wth physcal dsabltes. Founded n 1975, they are leaders n the feld and have placed over 4,400 assstance dogs. Canne Companons breeds and trans ther own dogs to get the temperament, ntellgence, focus, health, and work ethc needed. Ther breedng program s hghly regarded and looked at by others for best practces. At eght weeks old, puppes are placed wth volunteer puppy rasers who rase the puppes for 15 months, teachng basc obedence commands and socalzaton sklls. Then they return the dog to Canne Companons for sx months of professonal tranng to learn the 40+ commands they need to know to do tasks for people wth dsabltes. WOUNDED VETERAN S INITIATIVE GFWC s workng wth Canne Companons for Independence on ts Wounded Veteran s Intatve. Canne Companons has provded many assstance dogs to njured servce men and women who are returnng from the Iraq and Afghanstan wars. For a veteran makng a new start puttng hs or her lfe back together from an njury, an assstance dog can provde the help they need to regan ndependence. GFWC members can: Promote puppy rasng. Volunteers are needed to rase puppes from eght weeks to 1-½ years old attendng dog obedence classes and socalzng the puppy n publc settngs. Assstance s needed n gettng the word out on the need for volunteers. CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE Contact: Nancy Murray, Natonal Communty Events Manager P.O. Box Dutton Avenue Santa Rosa, CA W: P: E: NMurray@CCI.org Support regonal actvtes at one of the sx regonal centers near you: Northeast Regonal Center (New York, New Jersey, Connectcut, Delaware, Pennsylvana, Maryland, Washngton D.C., Vrgna, West Vrgna, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshre, and Mane) Contact: Debra MacKenze, NER Development Drector 286 Mddle Island Road Medford, NY P: E: DMackenze@cc.org North Central Regonal Center (Oho, Western Pennsylvana, Kentucky, Mchgan, Indana, Wsconsn, Illnos, Mnnesota, Iowa, Mssour, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas) Contact: Laurel Marks, NCR Development Drector 4989 State Route 37 East Delaware, OH P: E: LMarks@cc.org Northwest Regonal Center (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Northern Calforna, Oregon, Washngton, and Wyomng) Contact: Lsa Cannon, NWR Development Drector 2965 Dutton Avenue P.O. Box 446 Santa Rosa, CA P: E: LCannon@cc.org copyrght 2016 General Federaton of Women s Clubs 5

6 Vst and tour a regonal tranng center. Meet the Canne Companons Chapter leadershp near you and see how you can work together. Partcpate n the Canne Companons Sgnature Event DogFest Walk n Roll. For more nformaton vst Have members sew vests for the dogs or stuffed puppes. Offer the opportunty to clubs that lve near the regonal centers, to provde meals, etc. when team tranng s beng offered. Make donatons for dorm rooms or decorate the dorm rooms at Regonal Centers. Contact your closest Regonal Center to see f your club can fulfll any tems on ther wsh lsts. Arrange for a Canne Companons team to speak at your club meetng to learn more about assstance dogs and Canne Companons. Volunteer at a center/offce or staff a booth. Assst wth outreach to veteran organzatons, ncludng presentatons, outreach booth staffng, lterature, as well as poster and vdeo dstrbuton. Rase funds to help place a dog wth a veteran. Jon the Canne Companons Facebook page ( and help them buld ther network of lkes. Follow Canne Companons on Twtter (@cccanne). Subscrbe to ther YouTube channel ( and ther blog, Help s a Four-Legged Word ( Sgn up to receve monthly e-newsletters on Canne Companons updates and forward the emals to your frends ( Southeast Regonal Center (Florda, Georga, Tennessee, North Carolna, South Carolna, Msssspp, Alabama, and Lousana) Contact: Jeanne Cooley, SER Development Drector P.O. Box Orlando, FL P: E: JCooley@cc.org South Central Regonal Tranng Center (Texas) Contact: Mkell Bollnger, SCR Regonal Drector of Development PO Box Irvng, TX P: (800) 572-BARK (2275) E: MBollnger@cc.org Southwest Regonal Center (Arzona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexco, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Southern Calforna, Southern Nevada, and Hawa) Contact: Margaret Sluyk, SWR Development Drector P.O. Box 4568 Oceansde, CA P: E: MSluyk@cc.org Colorado Satellte Offce Contact: Paul O Bren, Colorado Drector 126 Las Anmas Street Colorado Sprngs, CO P: E: POBren@cc.org EASTERSEALS Contact: Teresa Summers Coordnator of Corporate Relatons/Development 212 Barney Drve Jolet, IL W: P: ext. 2 E: tsummers@jolet.easterseals.com Easterseals s changng the way the world defnes and vews dsabltes by makng profound, postve dfferences n peoples lves every day. Easterseals has been helpng ndvduals wth dsabltes and specal needs, and ther famles, lve better lves for more than 90 years. From chld development centers to physcal rehabltaton and job tranng for people wth dsabltes, Easterseals offers a varety of servces to help people wth dsabltes address lfe s challenges and acheve personal goals. copyrght 2016 General Federaton of Women s Clubs 6

7 Our vbrant communty of frends and supporters stands wth those who face challenges by volunteerng, advocatng, donatng and partcpatng n events that nspre us all and sustan our cause. Vst and tour a local afflate center. Meet the Easterseals CEO near you and see how you can work together. Arrange for an Easterseals representatve to speak at your club meetng to learn more about servces for chldren and adults wth dsabltes n your communty. Increase club and communty on Autsm Awareness and servces for ndvduals wth other dsabltes. APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH. Reach out to an Easterseals afflate to get nvolved wth Autsm Awareness programs durng the month of Aprl. Get nvolved wth Easterseals. Check out the Caregvers program and Mltary and Veterans Servces. Volunteer at one of Easterseals Camps or Recreaton programs. Follow the Easterseals Facebook Page. Sgn up to receve monthly e-newsletters ( Support Walk wth Me, where you have the opportunty to walk wth an Easterseals clent n your town. Learn how chldren grow and learn at dfferent rates. Vst Make the Frst Fve Count ( Rase funds for Cartrdges for Kds Recyclng, a recyclng program that pays schools and nonproft organzatons for empty laser and nkjet cartrdges, used cell phones, laptops, PDAs, and Pods. We are contnually workng to develop partnershps wth organzatons whose mssons and scope of work are germane to GFWC. Look for updates from the Home Lfe Communty Servce Program Charman n News & Notes, GFWC Clubwoman Magazne, and onlne at AWARDS GFWC recognzes State Federatons for outstandng projects and clubs for creatve projects n mplementng effectve Home Lfe Communty Servce Program projects and partnershp projects, as follows: Certfcate to one State Federaton n each membershp category $50 award to one club n the naton for project creatvty Award wnners wll be determned by entres nto the Awards Program. Each State Federaton may submt one State Award Entry Cover Sheet and one Club Creatvty Award Entry Cover Sheet for the Arts Communty Servce Program projects. Clubs do not submt entres drectly to GFWC. GFWC partners wll recognze State Federatons and clubs for ther efforts. Contact the GFWC Programs Department for nformaton. Refer to the Awards secton of the Club Manual for more nformaton, ncludng the Award Entry Cover Sheet gudelnes. RESOLUTIONS Resolutons adopted by GFWC are the foundaton of our organzaton. They gude our call to acton and are the bass of all programmng and advocacy. Current Resolutons for the Home Lfe Communty Servce Program are lsted here by Number and Ttle. Refer to the complete text of each n the Resolutons document Agrcultural Polcy Famly Farms Breast Cancer Cardopulmonary Resusctaton Tranng (CPR) and Automated External Defbrllators (AED) copyrght 2016 General Federaton of Women s Clubs 7

8 Chld Foster Care Chld Support Enforcement Program Cvl Rghts n the Workplace Communcaton Industry Consumer Product Informaton Dabetes Economc Equty Famly Caregvers Food, Drug, Cosmetcs and Medcal Products Regstraton Food Safety Freedom of Access to Health Clncs Freedom of Enterprse Gynecologcal Cancer Homelessness Humane Slaughter Act Enforcement Immunzaton for Preventon of Chldhood Dseases Improper Portrayal of Women Income Tax Deducton for Tuton Retrement Savngs Influence of the Home and Famly Intolerance Long-Term Care Mass Meda Mental Health Party Mgrant Worker Famles and Transent Youth Nursng Shortage Crss Nutrton Organ and Tssue Transplants Persons wth Dsabltes Preventon, Detecton, Control and Cure of Dseases and Illnesses Product and Servces Lablty Reform Chld Care Qualty Long Term Care Retred Persons Sexual Harassment Smokng n Publc Places Specally Traned Dogs and Other Anmals For People wth Dsabltes Stem Cell Research Substance Abuse and Rehabltaton Tobacco and Young People Tuberculoss Preventon HIV/AIDS Youth Sucde Preventon Autsm Spectrum Dsorder Cancer Heart Dsease n Women Obesty Preventon Relgous Freedom Sexual and Reproductve Health Care Health Care and Research copyrght 2016 General Federaton of Women s Clubs 8