Good Times: Nearly 120 ladies attended the recent DCWC St. Patrick’s Day Card/Game Party and Luncheon, held at the Presidential Banquet Center in Kettering. DCWC Board Member and St. Pat Party Chair, Julianne McCain, was delighted with the turnout for the annual event, which was declared a huge success! DCWC Members and Guests spent an enjoyable day playing card games, board games, and bingo, and feasting on a delicious lunch, while socializing with friends. Unique gift items were available for sale by Vendors, and forty-six lucky ladies walked away with Raffle Prizes and Gift Chance Prizes. Event attendees also demonstrated their generous spirit by donating many hundreds of items for use in the annual DCWC Easter Baskets Project.

Proceeds from the St. Pat Party will be used to help fund the DCWC Scholarships and Charitable Grants which are awarded each year, to assist those in need throughout the Miami Valley community.

In early April, workshops were held at the home of DCWC Board Member and Easter Baskets Project Chair, Ruth Galyon. Items which had been collected at the DCWC St. Pat Party (baskets, grass, ribbons, eggs, candy, toys, and other articles) were all used by DCWC workshop volunteers in the assembly of Easter Baskets, to be donated to homeless children. In addition, essential items such as towels, wash cloths, toothbrushes, and hygiene items were purchased using funds contributed by DCWC members and friends. These, together with donated purses, blankets, Easter candy, and other items were all assembled into Gift Bags for mothers whose homes were lost in the May 2019 Tornado.

In time for Easter, over 100 delightful Easter Baskets and Gift Bags were prepared, transported, and donated to children and mothers temporarily staying at the St. Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter and the Kettering Commons Shelter. Diane Almanza, Director of Volunteers for the Gateway Shelter, expressed enthusiastic excitement and gratitude when she saw all the donated items. She said, “Despite the uneasy stress and hardship that the children in our Shelters face, they will have a wonderful surprise, lending special fun and excitement to their Easter Sunday. We are grateful to all our friends at DCWC, for their continued support.” All DCWC Members are encouraged to participate in similar much-needed charitable activities throughout the year, to help those in need in the Miami Valley community.

The Dayton Catholic Women’s Club is affiliated with the National Council of Catholic Women. It was organized in 1923 to promote a spirit of community and cooperation among the Catholic women of the Dayton area, through involvement in religious, educational, social, and humanitarian activities. To learn more about DCWC, visit the web site at www.daytoncatholicwomensclub.org , or contact the DCWC President, Ms. Lisa Nussman, at [email protected]