Community Service Projects

The Chapin Woman's Club serves the community through projects. Each member belongs to a community service project team. The club has 5 areas of focus, as listed below. In addition, the GFWC-SC President selects her own special project.

Arts and Culture

The Arts and Culture Community Service Program encourages members to promote and support art and cultural programs in their clubs and communities, and to expand understanding on every level, from local and regional to national and international. Our goal is to create projects that include crafts, dance, drama, food, music, and other manifestations of art and culture that develop skills, awareness, and appreciation. It is designed to inspire clubwomen and ignite within them a desire to make the world a more beautiful, thoughtful, and caring place.

Arts and Culture -
Kaye Gerald

Upcoming Events
CRAFT AND DRAFT
The Arts and Cultural Committee is pleased to provide members plus their spouses and/or friends an opportunity to gather at the Irmo Craft and Draft to enjoy a relaxed unbuttoned classical music experience by a SC Philharmonic ensemble while enjoying local and regional brews from 12 taps and delicious food by Chef Ross. Wednesday March 5th. DOORS: 6:00 PM | CONCERT: 7:00 PM. Thanks to Beth Wolf for coordinating this.
We heard you! A Sip and Paint event is scheduled for April 14th. Lytha Nicholson has offered her barn as the perfect site. Members will be asked to pay for their supplies and to bring an appetizer to share and the beverage of your choice. More details soon. Thank you. Lytha!

Civic Engagement

The GFWC Civic Engagement and Outreach Community Service Program reminds GFWC 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. This Community Service Program highlights and encourages citizenship; crime prevention, safety, and disaster preparedness; the needy, hungry, and homeless; and our military personnel and veterans.

Civic Engagement & Outreach -
Cathy Huddle, chair

Upcoming Events
Meals on Wheels and Sr Bingo continue.
Sign up in the members only section of our website

Education & Libraries

We aim to help others, while we also continue to learn. Projects in the Education and Libraries Community Service Program are designed to foster schools, as well as other educational institutions and opportunities. These projects promote libraries, literacy, and the love of a good book. Through these efforts, we encourage the growth of individuals and communities at home and around the world.

Education & Libraries -
Georgette Richards, chair

Upcoming Events
EAS (Chapin High After School tutorial program) continues. Sign up to participate in the delivery of snacks in the members only section of our website: https://www.chapinwomansclub.org/
GFWC SC Reading Across America Project – As GFWC-SC chair for the Education and Library CSP, Cathy Huddle is challenging all clubs to participate in the Read Across America Reading Basket Project. Cathy and Elizabeth Gaines have gathered the books. Sign up for readers is drawing to a close. CWC members will be reading at Piney Woods and Chapin Elementary Schools the week of March 3rd. Contact Cathy or Elizabeth if you have any questions.

Environment

The GFWC Environment Community Service Program encourages us to become stewards of the earth by working to preserve the world’s resources, protect wildlife and domesticated animals, live sustainably, and beautify our communities and enjoy nature. Environmental degradation is cumulative and many scientists warn that we are at a tipping point. There is no time like the present to act.

Environment -
Bridgette Craver, Chair

Upcoming Events
Butterfly Garden Clean Up Days
Time to start cleaning up the butterfly garden so that we can expand it using the significant grant from the Progress Foundation. Marty Koblish will be leading this effort. It will all be ready by the date of the Butterfly. Scheduled workdays:
March 10-Monday 1-3 PM
March 11-Tuesday 9 AM to 12 noon
March 12-Wednesday 9AM to 12 noon
March 17-Monday 1-3 PM
March 18-Tuesday 9AM to 12 noon
March 19-Wednesday 9-12 noon
Butterfly Release date is set for Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Crooked Creek Center in the Butterfly Garden. The public will be charged $20 per butterfly. A pancake breakfast will be served to ticket holders following the butterfly release. Face Painting and music will be provided by CWC.
Homeward Bound Run date and types of volunteers needed to be determined.

Health & Wellness

The human body, mind, and spirit comprise our health and wellness. To improve our well being, we must address three key components: nutrition, disease prevention, and physical and emotional care. This Community Service Program aims to explore the various opportunities for awareness and advancement of each of these vital areas.

Health & Wellness -
Tricia Kling, Chair

Upcoming Events
February Events
We sponsored a dental health month puppet show on Feb 24, 9 am at Leaphart Elementary School: 120 Piney Grove Rd, Columbia. It was a great success. Chapin Pediatric Dentistry generously donated $200 to assist with the funding for the puppet show.
RED DRESS LUNCHEON - Each February we gather for a Dutch treat luncheon where we wear red for heart month. The luncheon was held February 27, at J Peters Restaurant.
Future Events
If anyone is interested in sharing your talents (i.e. cooking, finance, knitting, art, etc.) with survivors from Lighthouse for Life, please contact Tricia.

GFWC-SC Special Project:

Elder Abuse Awareness

How can you Help? Support Project Lifesaver

Abuse later in life includes the physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or stalking of an adult age 50 years or older. In most cases, the survivor is in an ongoing relationship with the perpetrator, such as a spouse, partner, family member, or caregiver, where society expects there to be a trusting and caring connection. Research indicates that for every incident of abuse reported to the authorities, 23 incidents remain undiscovered. Older individuals face unique challenges when seeking assistance or services.

Older survivors may not from seek help or call the police due to shame or embarrassment because the abuse was committed by a spouse, adult children, grandchild, or caregiver. They may be intimidated by threats of being placed in a nursing home. It is estimated that elders throughout the U.S. lose a minimum of $2.9 billion annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation. Signs of elder abuse may be missed by professionals working with older Americans because of a lack of training. Professionals must be trained to be diligent about doing physical body exams for abuse. We need to support and educate our elder population and their caregivers.