The
Insurance Women of West Cental hosted a speaker from Adventures
For Wish Kids at their April meeting. There are chapters of AFWK in
Cincinnati, Columbus, & Dayton. Their website is: www.afwkids.org.
This group strives to enrich the lives of children with life threatening
illnesses with year-round supportive group activities at some amazing
fun-filled places like Dayton Bombers Hockey, King's Island, WSU Basketball
games, auto races, The Nutcracker Ballet & other entertainment programs.
This program provides support, hope & lasting memories for more
than 325 Dayton area children & their families after The Special
Wishes have been granted. The Insurance Women of West Central
made a $150 donation to AFW Kids and plan to volunteer and/or attend
future outings with the Wish Kids. Together they will make life an...Adventure
for Wish Kids.
The
Insurance Women of Columbus Ohio recently provided dinner for approximately
60 people staying at Ronald McDonald House while their children are
patients in Nationwide Childrens Hospital. At the meeting which followed
the dinner they were given an update on the new Ronald McDonald house
being built across the street from the hospital. Chairman Diane Felder
presented a check for $1000 which was raised at their annual Holiday
Bazaar. These funds will be used to purchase needed items. IWOCO has
been providing monetary support, collecting personal care items, soda
tabs, books & other needed items to Ronald McDonald House for many
years.
The
Insurance Women of Akron have selected NEADS for their annual community
service project. NEADS (Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans), is a
non-profit organization established in 1976 to train and provide rescued
dogs and donated puppies to assist people who are deaf or physically
disabled in leading more independent lives at work, at home and at school.
NEADS trains all breeds and mixed breeds of dogs to help people who
are deaf or physically disabled live more independently. Most hearing
dogs are rescued from animal shelters throughout New England.
Dogs
trained to be service dogs are donated as puppies by breeders throughout
the country. Most service dogs are Golden or Labrador retrievers, however,
many other breeds are also suitable. Any dog "with the right stuff"
can partner with a person to provide independence and companionship
by reducing physical and social barriers. These assistance dogs become
an extension of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence
and relief from social isolation to their human partners. Members of
the Akron association will be donating funds for NEADS at their annual
Christmas meeting. There will also be a demonstration of how these dogs
assist their masters who depend on them.
The
Insurance Women of Cleveland have undertaken a project to collect
paperbacks, hardcover books and magazines for two area nursing homes,
Greenbrier Health Care Center & Aristocrat Berea. This will be an
ongoing Literacy project for the Cleveland association that will continue
throughout the coming year.
Since the 1970’s, the Insurance Women of Greater Cincinnati
have been playing Bingo at the Little Sisters of the Poor. Members not
only play Bingo with the residents there, but also donate prizes to
the winners. It is a great way to enjoy an evening out doing something
worthwhile for the community.
Another project that the Cincinnati association recently contributed
to is “Project Lifesaver” which is a rapid response partnership
with law enforcement aiding in the location victims of Alzheimer’s,
Autism & Down’s Syndrome who sometimes wander away from home
or school and get lost. Tracking bracelets with a range of one and a
half miles are issued to victims and the Butler County Sheriff has purchased
two tracking locator receivers and are hoping to purchase two more.
If a person wearing a bracelet wanders away, a family member can notify
the sheriff’s department and they can use the locator receivers
to quickly locate the lost person. Cost of one bracelet is $285.
The Professional Insurance Women of Stark County are supporting
"Being His Hands & Heart for the Hungry" soup kitchen
with food & supplies donations. Also needed are all sizes of warm
clothing including hats, gloves, scarves. Items are taken to monthly
meetings, and cash donations are appreciated. Members can also volunteer
to help with meal set-up, serving or clean-up. This outreach program
is especially appreciated by those who are in need during upcoming holiday
season and the cold winter months which follow.
The Insurance Women of Toledo has chosen Rusty’s House
to be their focus charity this year. This non-profit organization is
dedicated to helping young people recover from addictions. The founders
of Rusty's House know the pain that a young persons’s addiction
can bring to the teen and their loved ones. They are working to assist
families in finding the help they need. They have a wish list for the
following items: postage stamps, envelopes, printer paper, beverages
(pop/water), plates, napkins, cups, tickets to fun events for kids,
gift cards to Kroger, Meijer, Sam's, etc; gasoline gift cards such as
BP, Speedway, etc., and Office Max gift cards. Members are encouraged
to bring items from the wish list to association meetings.