Pictured: L to R-Patti Becker, Jan Bicknell, Lynn Corley

Woman's Club donates to Sojourn Shelter

[May 18, 2021]   LINCOLN - The Domestic Violence Committee of GFWC Lincoln Woman’s Club organized Mother’s Day Swag Bags to be taken to Sojourn Shelter and Services in Springfield, Illinois, which is the local shelter that benefits Logan County women in need.

The director of the shelter informed the club that the shelter can house up to 32 victims at any given time. This includes women and the children that come with them. Some women can have up to 7 or 8 children with them, or some have none. Usually about 40% of the people staying there have children. Logan County has the second highest number of people served by Sojourn, behind Sangamon County in which the shelter resides. Five counties are served by this shelter.

LWC members assembled sixteen bags that included full size products: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrush, razors, shaving cream, lotion, deodorant, hand sanitizer, Chapstick, perfume and a little box of candy. Thanks to the donations of over 30 members, the committee was able to assemble and deliver 16 Mother’s Day Swag bags. The items were packaged in spring colored gift bags, tied with bright ribbons. Excess items were also delivered to the shelter by the team, including extra shampoos and other personal items with new bras and underwear. The value of each of the 16 bags was estimated at $50, for a total $800 of donated items that were included in the bags. The three members of the Domestic Violence committee went together and presented the items to the shelter prior to Mother’s Day in May.

The GFWC Lincoln Woman’s Club is a service-oriented organization that provides personal enrichment, leadership opportunities and many other benefits to its members. The local 70-member club awards an annual local scholarship and supports numerous Lincoln/Logan County community projects with both volunteer hours and funding. For more information about LWC, contact Membership Chairman Ellen Dobihal at 732-4351.

[Judy Rader]