Woman's Club Celebrates 'Make a Difference Day' by Providing Household Items to Families in Need

The Lemont Junior Woman's Club celebrated "Make a Difference Day" this past weekend by collecting and donating household items for more than 100 families.

For the sixth consecutive year, the organization filled "Baskets of Basics" for local residents. The baskets included a number of household items, such as toilet paper, dish soap and laundry detergent.

All items were donated to families currently receiving assistance through the Lemont Township office.

The annual drive was organized this year by the club's Philanthropies committee. Club members are largely responsible for donating items, but this year the baskets also included donations from local Girl Scouts and .

"This is a favorite project among our members because it truly shows that we can make a difference when we work together,” said First Vice President and Philanthropies Chairperson Jen Gould. “Of course, we are very grateful for the additional support from the Girl Scouts and Lemont Family Dental.”

The "Baskets of Basics" program began as a way for the Lemont Junior Woman's Club to participate in "Make a Difference Day," which is held annually on the fourth Saturday in October and is sponsored by USA Weekend magazine.

“Individuals and organizations participate in this special day in a variety of ways," Gould said. "We have found that the best way for our club members to make a significant contribution is to combine our resources and, in keeping with our mission statement, to provide for families locally.”

Since its founding in 1993, the Lemont Junior Woman’s Club has provided financial and volunteer support to educational, civic and philanthropic efforts in Lemont. Members volunteer more than 7,000 hours and raise more than $25,000 each year to benefit the community.

For more information about the Lemont Junior Woman's Club, visit www.lemontjuniorwomansclub.org.