A Little History
It may seem like we are living in unprecedented times. We are all wearing masks, we can’t give a hug, we can’t have friends and family over to visit, we’ve had to cancel trips and special events. But if you travel back in time 100 years, things might seem oddly familiar. The great Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-20 killed 675,000 Americans amidst the calamitous backdrop of World War 1.
The Norwich Women’s Club was there to help, although we were called the Ladies’ Literary Club back then. Much like now, Norwich escaped the worst ravages of the Spanish Flu, allowing the Norwich Women’s Club to focus primarily on the war effort. We had 65 members then. Today, our numbers have grown to about 300 dedicated individuals working together as a strong and vibrant part of the community we call home.
The NWC Makes a Difference
In a typical year, our two Nearly New Sales plus our Spring Gala provide nearly all our funding, totalling about $70,000 annually. With these resources, the NWC grants post-secondary scholarships to Norwich students and funds a multitude of projects benefiting the community (click here to see the list).
This, we all know, is not a typical year. To help keep our community safe, we canceled our Nearly New Sales and our 2020 Spring Gala. It is likely our 2021 Spring gala will be canceled as well. We are working to create safe, alternative, creative events, but the fact is that these events generate substantially less funding.
We Need You!
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, we anticipate the need within our community for NWC funds will continue to increase. After much thought and discussion, the Norwich Women’s Club Board comes to you this year with a direct, year-end fundraising appeal. This is not our usual strategy, but this is not a usual year.
Please consider a charitable gift in support of our important, ongoing work for the community.
Click the "Donate" button on this page to make a secure, encrypted online donation. If you prefer, you can mail a check to the NWC at P.O. Box 191, Norwich, VT 05055. Your generous donation will be used where it is most needed to support scholarships and community projects and grants. If you would like your donation used specifically for Scholarships or for Community Project Grants, please indicate this choice in the notes section of your online payment or on the memo line on your check.
Thank you in advance for including the Norwich Women's Club in your year-end giving during these challenging times.
The Norwich Women’s Club Board of Directors
The Norwich Women’s Club is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.