The Garner Women’s Club has been a substantial contributor in the community since it started in 1928 in the home of Mrs. H. C. Rand. Events like the Arts Festival are a great way for the members to get the word out about how much the club cares about the arts.

However, the Garner Women’s Club donates nearly $5,000 each year through other projects.

The club members donate book bags and supplies to students at Creech Road and Timber Drive Elementary Schools each September. The Women’s Club Christmas Tour of Homes each year helps sponsor scholarships to Garner Magnet High School seniors. In 2009, the women raised $2,750 for the scholarships. Baskets to help the scholarship winners in their first year of college are prepared in the springtime.

Donations are made by the group to a local battered women’s shelter.

To help outside of Garner, the women fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child in November. They also donate to Victory Junction Gang Camp, Smile Train, Heifer International and Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina.

The group collects used books, magazines and gently used shoes on an ongoing basis for the Veteran’s Hospital and the N.C. Women’s Club Soles4Souls project.

According to Club President Kathy Behringer, there are many other projects as well. The Women’s Club recently began a new project to collect personal items for female soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To help with any of these projects or to donate, visit www.garnerwomansclub.tripod.com and contact the club president.