Pictured: Staff members of St. Thomas Café and WCF members
Since its establishment in 1890, The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) is united in its dedication to volunteer community service. This year, they designated a National Day of Service (NDS) in which all GFWC State Federations and Women’s Clubs come together in service to highlight an area of need, take action to address it, and raise public awareness about its importance. Saturday, September 30, was selected as the NDS highlighting food insecurity.
As a long-standing GFWC member, and in support of the GFWC NDS, the Women’s Club of Farmingdale (WCF) recently contacted the staff of the Janice Anderson Fellowship Café at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Farmingdale to determine how best the club could address the food insecurity needs of its community. Several club members volunteer regularly to help prepare and serve meals. It was decided that donations of gift cards to local nation-wide food chains would make it possible for recipients to plan another meal in between the once-a-month café services.
The café is bright and cheery with long tables beautifully prepared with place settings. Free hot meals are offered the last Saturday of each month, with a different menu, 12-2 p.m. Birthday and holiday celebrations are celebrated each month. Besides a hot meal, they have raffles and a variety of adult seasonal like-new clean clothing and shoes (availability and sizes vary). They have an on-going food pantry and meal programs. Pre-pandemic, the café averaged 12—125 people.
During the pandemic, they set up outside the church with “Grab n Go” meals.
The WCF donated 25 – $10 McDonald gift cards to be given to soup kitchen recipients so that they may enjoy another meal at their convenience.
Incidentally, it was noted that the Fellowship Café recently changed its name to the Janice Anderson Fellowship Café at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in memory of WCF member Helen Bergman’s daughter, Janice Anderson.
The Women’s Club of Farmingdale, a local philanthropic organization, is always interested in welcoming new members. For more information, please email: lodaromanelli@gmail.com. #IAMGFWC
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