As the 2020-2022 GFWC-SC Health and Wellness Community Service Program Chairman, I look forward to working with the clubs as we promote the possible projects that fall under this CSP. This CSP is broken down into three areas: Nutrition, Disease Prevention and Physical and Emotional Care. For an overview of this CSP, go to the 2020-2022 GFWC Club Manual on the GFWC website.
- GFWC CSP Chairmen have each named a Challenge Project to put out to our clubs. The Challenge Project for Health and Wellness CSP is Physical Funding for Mental Health Programs. Did you know that 4.5% of adults in SC live with serious mental health conditions and only 44.5 % of those adults receive any form of treatment? SC is ranked 37 out of 50 states for providing access to mental health services. “Research on depression, anxiety and exercise shows that the psychological and physical benefits of exercise can also help improve mood and reduce anxiety.” With these facts in mind, plan a fundraising walk, run, bike, swim event or a dance-a-thon, with benefits funding the mental health program of your club’s choice. A great organization to partner with is NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) which has ten SC affiliates around our state.
- Under the Nutrition area, check out the Healthy Food Donation List on Feeding America’s website. Use this list to guide your shopping for food pantries and providing healthy snacks for local police and fire fighters or after school programs.
- Under the Disease Prevention area provide care items for cancer patients. Fill a Pink Bag of Hope to be given locally to women undergoing chemo for breast cancer. Provide warm blankets and socks, moisturizers and lip balm, water and hard candy as well as books, magazines, crossword puzzles and journals.
- Under Physical and Emotional Care – concentrate on the Challenge project listed below.
- Health and Wellness Affiliate Organizations –depending on club intent, projects/programs done with these affiliates can be reported in Health and Wellness.
Clubs can plan to bring awareness to Child Abuse by organizing a pinwheel garden in your community. Children’s Trust has Pinwheel Kits to help make this an easy project. The kits include 48 Pinwheels, Yard Sign, 5 Pinwheel Lapel Pins, and Educational materials. The cost of the kit is $100. Email mlynn@scchildren.org to place order. Additional information is in the Club Presidents packets.
- Start a program that helps individuals compile their medical info in case of an emergency.
- Research unaddressed community problems and identify those who are underserved.
- Promote health and safety information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Plan programs on women’s heart health.
- Know your blood pressure.
- Get moving, eat healthy, and maintain a healthy weight.
- Start club meetings with a warm-up and have fun with chair exercises. Sponsor a National Wear Red Day celebration.
- Decorate street parking meters with red ribbons for Women’s Heart Awareness.
- Host a Valentine social serving heart-healthy refreshments.
- Use the Heart Truth Speaker’s Kit to conduct an educational session for women.
- Sponsor the Red Dress Sunday/Sabbath service at a local church.
- Display the Red Dress logo throughout the community.
- Start an Eat Smart for a Healthy Heart program with cooking demos and tastings.
- Learn and share facts on gynecologic cancer.
- Order free Inside Knowledge materials and distribute them to your club and community.
- Promote Inside Knowledge, especially on awareness days.
- Celebrate June as National Cancer Survivor Month with lavender ribbons. Decorate with pink (breast), teal (cervical), and black (skin) ribbons for cancer awareness days.
- Promote Dining with Diabetes by distributing food charts and info, and holding cooking demos.
- Plan various programs for breast cancer awareness, such as a Bra-ha-ha fundraiser.
- Offer free mammograms to the needy.
- Organize/participate in health fairs and forums.
- Learn about proper use of medications and issues with prescription drug addiction.
- Help prevent prescription drug abuse by distributing info on safe disposal of medications.
- Create and distribute a resource list of women’s clinics and shelters. Educate club and community on the “Make the First Five Count” initiative. Promote Autism Awareness in the month of April.
- Learn how children grow and learn at different rates.
- Support and walk with an Easterseals client in “Walk with Me.”
- Sign up to receive monthly e-newsletters from Easterseals.
- Arrange for an Easterseals rep to speak at a club meeting about their programs.
- Donate birthday bags to Easterseals affiliates to share with clients. Incorporate fitness activities into club and community, such as a fun run. Start an exercise group in your club with a weight loss challenge.
- Promote healthy self-esteem and self-worth.
- Host cooking and nutrition classes for underprivileged children and teach food safety.
- Partner with a local health organization to sponsor First Aid and CPR classes and programs.
- Support Shot@Life with a “Pop a Shot” fundraiser, shooting baskets for prizes at a local game.
- Other Shot@Life projects/events as outlined.
- Hold a Halloween-themed cornhole tournament for UNICEF for a “hole” lotta fun.
- Other UNICEF projects/events as outlined.
- Make Smile Splints for Operation Smile.
- Other Operation Smile projects/events as outlined.