The Santa Clara Woman’s Club Christmas Boutique on Nov. 3 continued what boutique organizer and club president Lona Ingraham called “a fun fundraiser we do every year.”
The boutique, which raised about $300 in 2016, is one of a number of enjoyable social events the philanthropic women organize to raise funds for community causes such as scholarships for nurses and nonprofits groups that are dear to their hearts, for example, the Grateful Garments Project, Operation Freedom Paws and Shot@Life.
Community service is the tie that binds Woman’s Club members in supportive friendship.
“We are a community within ourselves with love and support and friendship. The collection today is a good example,” said Ingraham, explaining that they were passing the hat and would match contributions to help out a member’s daughter whose home burned down in October.
“My daughter in Santa Rosa lost her home,” said Maria Nascimento. “It brings tears to my eyes that everyone has been so nice to me. The support and friendship is amazing.”
“Joining the club seven years ago has been the best thing that’s happened to me. There’s a bonding with other women that helped me to go forward in life after my husband passed,” said Roseann LaCoursiere.
The funds raised by events also help to maintain their clubhouse, the historic Adobe at 3260 The Alameda near Benton Street. The Adobe—registered California State Landmark No. 249—dates from between 1784 and 1798 and is one of the oldest surviving adobes in Northern California. Constructed of adobe bricks and roofed with tiles, it was one of 30 homes built for married Native American couples who worked at Mission Santa Clara.
The Woman’s Club, established in 1904, bought the adobe for $350 in 1913 and refurbished it to use as a clubhouse. It has a full kitchen and can be rented for private events.
“Everyone here is so nice. It’s a safe place where I can talk about anything. The group really cares about each other,” said Mary Ann Stanfield. “Women can come to a luncheon and meet us and find out what’s going on. We make people feel welcome.”
The Woman’s Club luncheon meetings (lunch reservations required) with guest speakers are the first Friday of the month, except July and August. At the Dec. 1 meeting, new or nearly new toys, jackets and blankets for St. Justin’s Community Ministry are being collected. Jan. 5, 2018, is the popular post-holiday, re-gifting auction.
Visit www.santaclarawomansclub.org for information about the 120-member Woman’s Club. Visit www.cfwc.org for information about the California Federation of Women’s Clubs.
