Normally, the Lowell Women’s Club would end its year with a business meeting in April and a celebration of its student members and Woman of the Year honoree in May. However, this year has been anything but normal.
While the organization’s last two meetings were cancelled, that didn’t stop members from ending the year on a high note. Member Karen Waid collected food donations from people while delivering flower bulb orders from a fundraiser and gathered enough items to fill the donation cart at Flat River Outreach Ministries (FROM). Plus, the Lowell Women’s Club distributed $13,600 in scholarships and community gifts.
10 Students Receive $11,000 in Scholarships
Throughout the year, the Lowell Women’s Club participates in a number of fundraiser activities. The group has sold burritos, flower bulbs and baked goods although their biggest events are the Fallasburg Arts Festival and Christmas Through Lowell. Members serve up food at the Fallasburg Arts Festival while they offer a lunch, as well as man a craft booth, during Christmas Through Lowell.
Ten Lowell High School seniors are the main beneficiaries of this year’s fundraising. The club gives 80% of its proceeds to its student members in the form of scholarships. For 2020, that meant $11,000 was split between the following students:
- Emma Bennett
- Mary Jo Buechler
- Savanah Crace
- Delaney Duimstra
- Riley Fuller
- Mya Kaywood
- Abigail McMillian
- Judi Reagan
- Kyla Sanders
- Izzy Tackman
Actual scholarship amounts were determined based on factors such as academics, volunteer hours and participation in club activities.
13 Organizations Receive Gifts from Lowell Women’s Club
From the remaining money raised by the Lowell Women’s Club, 13 community organizations received gifts of $200 each. The club makes the following six gifts on an annual basis:
- First Congregational UCC (which serves as the club’s monthly meeting site)
- FROM Food Fight
- Lowell Farm & Wildlife Center
- Lowell Open Table
- Lowell Senior Neighbors
- Pink Arrow Pride
Additional gifts are made as funds allow. In 2020, these organizations also received $200 from the Lowell Women’s Club:
- Dream Weavers
- Baby Pantry of Lowell
- Lowell Education Foundation
- Lowell Serenity Club
- Friends of the Englehardt Library
- Children’s Healing Center
- CROP Hunger Walk
In addition to monetary gifts, Lowell Women’s Club members donated items throughout the year to local non-profits such as FROM and Alpha Family Center. They also volunteered for organizations like Kids Food Basket.
While the COVID-19 pandemic ended its year prematurely, the Lowell Women’s Club looks forward to the opportunity to reconvene this fall when it will name its 2020 Woman of the Year and induct a new group of student members.
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