Community Service Projects:  ​

​

• One of our standout initiatives is the President’s Project, which supports Ruskin Elementary School. Club members generously donated items such as Taki’s, juice boxes, fruit roll-ups, matchbox cars, Barbies, arts and crafts supplies, and more to replenish the school's rewards store.

•  National Day of Service: We had a drive-through drop-off food drive at our clubhouse, allowing the community and our members to donate food to two local food banks. This initiative was a resounding success, bringing together people from all walks of life to support those in need. The generosity displayed was truly heartwarming, as we collected numerous non-perishable items to help alleviate hunger in our community.  We donated 400 pounds of food to two local food pantries.   

•  Our members extended their generosity to the Howling Hounds Animal Shelter. Donations included essential items such as soft and canned dog food, treats, chew toys, and various cleaning products like bleach, gallons of white vinegar, and Clorox wipes. Members also provided rags, old towels, sheets, blankets, poop bags, paper towels, trash bags, and gift cards. These contributions have greatly aided the shelter in caring for its furry residents, ensuring they have a clean and comfortable environment.

•  Our members planned to donate items like stops, jaxs, cards, water paints, pads, small jars of playdough, fidget spinners, poppers, and books to put in bags for pediatric cancer patients at John Hopkins Children’s Hospital. The generosity of our members was overwhelming, and as a result, we ended up donating enough items to fill 42 bags!

• We made 30 fleece “Made with Love” tie blankets for breast cancer patients at Moffitt Cancer Hospital   

•  “Assist With Love” was another heartfelt initiative where we donated 71 packs containing Beanie Babies, Valentine cards, cookies/treats, and a small gift in Valentine-boxed packages. These were given to Inspired Living Assisted Memory Care for their residents to let them know we are thinking of them on Valentine's Day.

•  We created 50 Easter baskets for the children of parents in the food bank line of the Calvary Community Cupboard of Calvary Lutheran Church and Feeding Tampa Bay before the holiday of Easter. Our members got so carried away donating candy and items for these Easter baskets, that we had enough left over to make Easter bags for the adults as well!

• We worked with the Hope Seeds Non-Profit Organization by bagging up a variety of seeds to help feed the hungry in Haiti.  In two hours, we packaged 500 packets that will feed 500 families. 

• In December, we hosted a heartwarming Angel Tree party for 20 students from Ruskin Elementary School.  The children were delighted by a special visit from Santa who distributed gifts from members totaling $1,527.  We also distributed 20 turkeys for each family and $350 in gift cards for several families that lost everything during the recent hurricanes.  

• Quarters of Kindness is a special Community Service Project that we have done for several years.  The members donate quarters of all year long and then we distribute them in bags of $7 to patrons of three local laundromats.  We also supplied them with clothes detergent sheets, magazines to read while they washed their clothes, and snacks and bottled water.    For the year, we donated a total of $354.75 which equaled 50 bags of quarters.  

•  Furthermore, we extended our support to individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence during the Awareness and Prevention month. Our substantial donations to Mary and Martha House included essential items such as paper towels, toilet paper, bath towel sets, Swiffer wet mops, dish soap, and liquid detergent. The overwhelming generosity of our members was evident as we filled three carloads with these much-needed supplies.

​​​

Our GFWC Ruskin Woman’s Club members do care about our community, and we attempt to assist a variety of age groups and walks of life throughout the year.  Our statistics speak for itself in how hard we work, the hours we willingly give of ourselves for the benefit of those less fortunate, and the support we share in our community.