Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The Monticello Woman's Club undertook a new service project this year, inspired by the presentation at a recent club lunch meeting by the Guardian ad Litem Foundation Second Judicial Circuit.
The Guardian ad Litem program (GAL) is part of a statewide coalition of volunteers, community supporters and professional staff advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. The local foundation supports the program in the Second Judicial Circuit (six North Florida counties, including Jefferson) by raising funds and volunteering to provide necessities for children such as medical care, household goods, school supplies, baby needs, clothing, money for electric bills and food. The foundation's annual Holiday Gift Drive ensures that every child represented by GAL receives holiday gifts.
Monticello Woman's Club President Jennifer King says that when the members were looking for something to do for Christmas in Jefferson County, deciding to work with the GAL foundation was “a natural match.” Some members decided to volunteer their time and others participated in the gift drive. They collected money, which Member Teri Smith used to buy a variety of toys. On Friday, Dec. 2, Smith delivered a trunk full of children's gifts to Marianne Trussell, who serves on the board for the foundation.
“These toys are going to be earmarked for kids in foster care through the Guardian ad Litem program for Jefferson County,” said Trussell.
The delivery was just in time for Saturday's “shopping day,” when guardians and program managers in the Second Judicial Circuit are able to see the donations for the Holiday Gift Drive and choose gifts for the particular children they represent.
“Everybody will have something under the tree – that's our goal,” said Trussell. “They will all know that somebody, somewhere, loves them and is thinking about them even though they are in foster care.”
The Woman's Club in Monticello is a part of the General Foundation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), an international women’s organization “dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.” GFWC has more than 60,000 members across clubs in every U.S. state and 12 other countries.
King notes that the Woman's Club in Monticello has been dedicated to community service for 106 years, since 1916. The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at noon for luncheon, a program and service project planning. They would love to have new members!
For more information, contact King at (850) 443-9887 or Pam Kelly at (850) 510-8359.