October 2023

The Town of Hampden’s Park and Rec Department held a Fall Festival. Our club participated in their Trunk or Treat and decorated a Trunk with spooky Halloween decorations. Five club members, including one that dressed up as a witch, handed out the candy to over 300 children. It was a fun and successful event!!

Karen Gatchell organized a pillowcase making event in memory of her daughter who made pillowcases and quilts for family and friends.  The pillowcases were donated to Shriners Hospital for Children, Ronald McDonald House, Open Pantry Homeless Shelter, and Springfield Rescue Mission.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month the October meeting was held at Kathy Fuss's house where the 178 Comfort Pillows completed this year were  packaged for donation.  

Our club provided all the sides and fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner for the four women and nine children living at Christina's House in Springfield.  Additionally, 50 cans of various proteins were donated to the Community Survival Center.  

Book Club met at Crazy Jake's to discuss The Lost English Girl by Julia Kelly.

We donated many yards of lace to Little Dresses for Africa.  The LDFA organization makes and distributes dresses to all parts of Africa and beyond.

The November meeting was held in the function room at the Senior Center.  We had a Wine Tasting game where everyone tried to match each wine to the board member who donated it.... and we tasted them all of course!

Club members shopped and prepared a Taco Bar dinner for the 18 people staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield.

25 new sleeping bags donated to Cathedral in the Night in Northampton.  Cold weather gear and clothing donated to the Springfield Rescue Mission.  Total value of the donations was $2800.

Club "adopted" a veteran family and provided the family of four many useful and fun presents for their Christmas celebration.  We also had a fun night at Brenda's house wrapping all the gifts.

Ten veteran or active service families received the many things they needed for a Christmas Dinner.  Everything from appetizes, napkins, sides, desserts, and a turkey or ham was provided.  

We're always looking for new partners to collaborate with on projects and events. If your organization shares our values and mission, let's work together to make a positive impact.

The final Book Club of the year was held at Crazy Jake's to discuss the book Homecoming by Kate Morton.

Maria Ardolino hosted a wonderful meeting and dinner at her very festive home. Instead of doing a gift exchange between club members, everyone contributed mittens, hats, and socks that will donated to the Springfield Rescue Misson.

102 prescription pill bottles along with blankets and toys were collected and donated to the TJ O'Connor Animal Shelter.

Over a thousand greeting card fronts and envelopes were collected for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in Nevada where they will be recycled into art work.  

Four children's book were donated to the Wilbraham Public Library in honor of new grandbabies of club members.  Each book has bookplate with the child's name.

Our club has a continuous allocation of $100 to fund loans through kiva every year. When previous loans are repaid we reloan our money. This year we loaned $25 to Elena in the Philippines and $25 to Mary in Kenya. We are currently waiting the repayment of two other loans.

The club collected gently used professional clothing for men and women.  The will be given to students in need of profession dress for job interviews.

Ten "Birthday Boxes" were assembled and donated to a local shelter.  Each box contains items needed for a child to celebrate a birthday - cakes, banners, balloon, wrapping, etc.

The club provides cloth bags of person hygiene items to the nurses at the local schools.  Kits are given out when needed and resupplied by the club when necessary.