By Stephanie Dean

Mocksville Woman’s Club

The January 2019 meeting of the GFWC-NC Mocksville Woman’s Club (MWC) met at Bermuda Run Country Club and got under way with a strong focus on community service, fundraising efforts, and membership.

MWC will host a new member coffee from 10-11:30 a.m. on Feb. 5 at Bermuda Run Country Club. The club also invites women from Davie and surrounding counties to the Feb. 13 meeting at the country club as a member’s guest.   

The club encourages fellowship among women and the development of leadership within the community. A strong spirit of volunteerism unites MWC club members as they make a difference in the lives of others.   If interested in attending the new member coffee or the meeting on Fe. 13, send an email to pagha2@gmail.com.

The meeting was called to order by President-Elect Becky Young who welcomed MWC members and guests. Young recognized club members Luanne Taylor and Sharon Murphy for their work on the Christmas basket project for A Storehouse for Jesus.

The Public Issues Community Service Project (CSP) Co-chairs, Carolyn Beaver and Paula Harrison, and other project members hosted the program. Beaver introduced the guest speaker, Roby Taw, executive director of Davie Pregnancy Care Center. She shared the work the organization provides. Professional staff and trained volunteers assist pregnant women by offering support, encouragement, and peer counseling throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.

Services include pregnancy tests, community referrals, and adoption referral as well as pregnancy counseling including pre and postnatal support, peer, and relationship counseling. Additional services include educational classes on childbirth, breastfeeding, parenting, life skills, bible studies, and sexual integrity education.

Also, the center offers an “earn while you learn” material assistance program. Through the JEWYL program, expectant mothers can earn maternity clothes, car seats, cribs, strollers, infant clothing, diapers, and other necessities.

The center has been serving the community since 2002. All services are confidential and provided at no cost. All clients are welcome without regard to race, age, income or religious preference.

As part of the CSP project, MWC members donated hundreds of diaper bags filled with baby items to the Davie Pregnancy Center for mothers who need supplies but cannot afford to purchase them. Also, MWC made a monetary donation to the organization, presenting Ms. Taw with a check. Contributions aid in offering increased resources to the community.

In other areas of service, Marlene Shamel, Co-chair for Arts CSP, shared that she and Lorrie Slate led students from Central Davie Academy and made blankets as an art project, which were presented to Executive Director, Brandi Reagan. Students had an opportunity to learn about the services provided to the community by the Dragonfly House. December’s Art project was a cloth collage led by Becky Young. Stephanie Dean and Lorrie Slate will lead the art project for January.

The Conservation CSP was led by Co-chairs Vickie Smitherman and Christine Bralley. Through club collections, a monetary donation was made to the Davie County High School Hunger Fighters. Jim Welch gave members a tour of the Hunger Fighters Pantry and thanked the club for the contribution. The club will continue to collect donations through spring, and a field trip is also in planning stages.

Co-Chair for Education, Linda Dorsett reported that mock interviews at Davie County High School would not be held this year due to scheduling issues. Gena Taylor, Executive Director for SmartStart of Davie, has been scheduled as a guest speaker for the MWC February meeting so club members can learn more about the program. SmartStart’s Hoe Down will be on Feb. 8 and MWC club members will participate as volunteers. The MWC Scholarship deadline is Jan. 31, and interviews will be conducted on Feb, 8.

In the area of Home Life, Co-chair Sharon Murphy updated members on the 50 Christmas baskets that had been presented to Storehouse for Jesus for senior female clients. Club members will prepare valentines for distribution to nursing homes. Also, the Home Life CSP program for March will feature guest speaker, Lisa Foster, Executive Director of Family Promise.

Alice Sineath informed club members that bingo was held at Autumn Care on Jan. 7 for 28 residents. Four club members and two additional participants led the games.

The MWC club meeting agenda commenced with words from Chaplain, Nancy Penry. Leading the members in pledges to the flag were Paula Harrison and Carolyn Beaver. Following the business meeting and guest speaker presentation, Nancy Penry offered the blessing, and the meeting was adjourned and followed by lunch.