Community Service Programs

Arts and Culture - Arts and Culture are essential to our quality of life! The study of art and culture enriches the human experience. Art education improves problem solving and critical thinking skills, builds focus and perseverance, and nurtures creativity, confidence, and collaboration. Cultural awareness promotes effective communication and profoundly increases the ability to appreciate and enjoy a variety of new people and experiences. Projects that include music, dance, theatre, or a cultural experience, can be both traditional and innovative. There are countless ways to support the arts and culture awareness.

Civic Engagement and Outreach - Civic Engagement and Outreach reminds members that 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 - locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. The four “broad strokes” of this effort include: 1) Citizenship; 2) Crime Prevention, Safety, and Disaster Preparedness; 3) The Needy, Hungry, and Homeless; and 4) Our Military Personnel and Veterans.

Education and Libraries - GFWC members promote education at all levels. We help others, while continuing to learn ourselves. Projects in the Education and Libraries Community Service Program are designed to foster schools and educational institutions, and to promote literacy, libraries, and the love of a good book. We encourage the growth of individuals and communities at home and around the world. Education has been a cornerstone of GFWC. Our founder, Jane Cunningham Croly, formed the General Federation of Women’s Clubs “to support clubs throughout the nation and further their efforts at providing education, improved working conditions, health care, scholarships, and other reforms.”

Environment - Encourages us to be stewards of the earth: 1) Preserve the world’s resources and protect wildlife and domesticated animals, 2) Live sustainably, and 3) Beautify our communities and enjoy nature. The environment is everything that makes up our surroundings and affects our ability to live on the earth - the air we breathe, the water that covers most of its surface, all flora and fauna, and the soil, minerals, and fossil fuels that exist within its crust. The environment continually changes through natural ecological processes and as a result of human actions. We strive to educate members about the importance of beautifying, maintaining, and restoring our most precious resources through the implementation of projects in our local communities.

Health and Wellness - Health and Wellness Community Service Program is designed to inform members of issues that affect the well being of individuals, families, and communities. To improve our well being, we must address three key components: 1) Nutrition, 2) Disease prevention, and 3) Physical and emotional care. This Community Service Program aims to explore the various opportunities for awareness and advancement of each of these vital areas. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” Wellness has been described as an active process of becoming aware of and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is a dynamic process of change and growth.

Legislation Action Center Competition

This contest is a friendly competition between Districts in our state with a focus on our Legislative Action Center (LAC). The LAC is a powerful tool used to alert members of GFWC’s public issues and advocacy efforts. Those registered in the LAC will be able to track bills and contact local representatives with ease.

The LAC Contest will focus solely on increasing membership registration in the LAC. Our goal is to have all GFWC-NC members registered for the LAC and we are asking each of you to support our mission and Sign Up! Currently GFWC-NC has only 11% of our membership registered. As of October, only 34 members of District 4 were registered. Please encourage your members to do so. It is very easy, click on the button below to get started.

More information about LAC can also be found at the GFWC website by following this link.

Action Center Online

The GFWC-NC District 4 Arts Festival was held at Hawfield’s Presbyterian Church

The Mebane Woman’s Club and the Burlington Woman’s club were the planned this fun meeting on February 10, 2024.

Sedgefield Woman’s club entered 12 art projects from the club members, 23 projects from Jamestown Middle School, and 7 art projects from Ragsdale High School.

The Artsfest category is for special needs schools. The 9 pieces of art projects were entered from the following schools: Haines-Inman, the Arc of High Point and Lion Heart.

All first-place winners at the district event will move on to the GFWC-NC Art Festival on March 9th.

There were 8 first place, 1 second place, and 3 third place winners from the club women. Jamestown Middle School students were awarded 21 first places and 2 second places. Ragsdale High School students were awarded 7 first places.

The Artfest entries (Arc of High Point, Lion Heart and Haines Inman) were awarded 8 first place and 1 second place.

Congratulations to all of our winners.

Environment Innovation Barn Field Trip

Great field trip for the SWC Environment Committee to the Innovation Barn in Charlotte and lunch at The Whiskey Warehouse. The Innovation Barn is the only facility in the US of its kind. It's a circular facility with zero waste. They have businesses located within the facility that are dedicated to promoting and producing things made out of recycled materials. They recycle glass, plastic, fabric, and food to name a few things. They also have Aquaponics which allows them to grow plants in water fertilized by tilapia waste. They are teaching many of these things to schools in Charlotte Everything you see in these pictures was made for from recycled materials. So happy NC has this facility and initiatives.

Visit to the HPU Caine Conservatory

SWC Environment Committee visits the Osprey Trail.

The Osprey Trail is part of the Mountains to Sea Trail.

Pollination Garden at the Hester Park Pond donated by Environment Committee.

Enjoying Art at Nailed It DIY Greensboro

SWC Civic Engagement wants to thank everyone who jumped up and responded to the SOS for the LINKS young woman who moved alone into her new apartment with her brand new baby. She needed everything so we sent out a very comprehensive and lengthy 'wish list’. The hope was that we’d make a small dent in that wish list and supply some items needed for a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room, and nursery. BUT Y’ALL GOT EVERYTHING ON THAT WISH LIST! And you did it in a week! Donations included everything for a living room (decorative pillows, couch throws, lamps, pictures), and for a kitchen (pots, pans, silverware, dishes, utensils, dish cloths, oven mitts, bakeware, cookie sheets, spices, canned food, soup, pantry items) and for a bedroom (sets sheets, comforters, duvets, bed skirts, pictures, clock), and for a bathroom (towels, shower curtains, bath mat, shampoo, soap) and the baby was blessed with a crib w/mattress, crib sheets, bassinet, infant tub, diapers, bottles, bottle brushes, so much adorable clothes, baby toiletries…)

She cried when the first full van pulled up with all this new stuff for her and her newborn.

She said it was like Christmas when the second van arrived.

And then she was handed an envelope with Walmart gift cards.

We did good.