Junior Women's Club Events Support Local Charities and Education

The smell of cookies and the sounds of youngsters in play wafted through the air of the lower level of the   as members of the Junior Women’s Club gathered in the kitchen area to bake and have some quality social time with one another.

The scene is from this past Saturday’s Junior Women’s Club social event where members get together to take part in an activity which gives them a chance to interact, share recipes and it also provides an opportunity for their children to meet and play.  The cookies are then given to the and and many of the Boulevard merchants who have been good to the organization.

“It’s a way to get to know them and for them to get to know us,” said Maria Adamkiewicz, vice president of the group.

The Junior Woman’s Club is an active group of about 32 members which hosts many fundraisers each year and does work to support charities and educational efforts.

“All of our activities are geared towards raising awareness or raising funds,” Adamkiewicz explained. The group meets on the second Thursday of every month at the church. Both Lisa Mason and Andrea Gaffrey are the group’s co-presidents.

Adamkiewicz said that the Hasbrouck Heights group is part of the general federation of women’s club which dates back to the 1920s. This group is part of the Palisades district she said. Most of the group’s members are from the borough but they also have members from neighboring towns such as Garfield and Wood-Ridge.

Monies raised from their fundraisers are donated to local charities or help fund scholarships for high school seniors such as the Ruth Perry scholarship, named for a largely active former member, which is awarded to a student for his or her volunteer work.

In addition to the group’s chosen local charities, it also supports the charities which are chosen by the state level of the women’s federation. This year the state charity is the Valerie Fund, which provides support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders. Proceeds from the group’s upcoming Spring Fling event planned for April 27 at the Landmark will benefit the Valerie Fund, Adamkiewicz explained.

The Junior Women’s Club also actively supports educational programs and hosts a spelling bee every year which has led to the state level.

“Hasbrouck Heights kids do very well and we have made it to the regional and state bees,” said Adamkiewicz.

The group also hosts a clothing drive in May and collects funds to be distributed to UNICEF.

Each year the Junior Woman’s Club puts on three big children’s events/fundraisers which includes Brunch with the Easter Bunny which this spring will be held on April 16 at the . At Halloween time they host a costume party where kids are entertained by a magician and they serve snacks. December brings the popular pizza with Santa event.