Our Community Service Projects
Education
Lockport Woman's Club continues its unwavering commitment to advancing educational programs, fostering community connections, and supporting philanthropic endeavors. Since October 2023, the LWC has collaborated with Lockport Township High School to introduce Sewing Initiatives for special needs adults at LTHS Career & Community Connection (CCC). LWC volunteers gather with adult students twice a week to provide instruction in fundamental sewing skills and guide them in creating practical and useful items. In addition, on a weekly basis, LWC volunteers extend their support to LTHS students by imparting essential lessons in Financial Literacy Initiative, covering topics such as spending, saving, budgeting, and investing.
Food Baskets
The LWC conducts two food drives each year, prior to Thanksgiving and in the spring. Needy families are identified through the social workers of local schools. Food is ordered from the Northern Illinois Food Bank and gathered through local donations. It is sorted and distributed based on family sizes. In addition to member volunteers, the Lockport Township High School Interact Club assists with this project. In 2022, the LWC granted $4,250 directly to area food pantries and spent $3,395 on food for distribution through the Food Baskets Project.
In addition to addressing food scarcity, each year prior to Christmas, the Food Basket Committee conducts a gift collection among LWC members to support the children of these families. In 2022, 64 gifts were collected, an estimated value of $1,600.
Book Club
The Book Club has been a staple of the LWC. This year, the book club met on four occasions.
Goodwill
Birthdays, anniversaries, new babies and grandbabies, family losses, and illnesses, are dutifully remembered by the LWC Goodwill representatives who faithfully send cards, emails, and make phone calls.
Monthly Projects
At each meeting, cash and in-kind collections are taken to support the Lockport Food Pantry. Items are also collected for a recycling program sponsored by the Dragon Master Foundation in support of brain cancer research. At different times of the year, other collections are taken for specific needs, such as school supplies for children in SOS Children's Village or gift cards for Lockport Township High School’s graduation lock-in, Senior Late Night.
In addition to its own activities, the LWC provides regular financial support to other worthy local organizations in accordance with the LWC's mission statement.
Communications & Public Relations
The LWC, in addition to promoting the club and its events through Facebook and its websites, maintains separate websites and Facebook accounts for the Christmas Crossroads and Spooky Night Out fundraisers. The Artisan Market also maintains a Facebook account. In 2022, a marketing specialist was also contracted to boost the visibility of these events. In addition to these platforms, the members have represented and promoted the club through participation in community events, such as the Old Canal Days parade, Young Hearts for Life, Trunk or Treat, Wreaths Across America at Lincoln Cemetery, and Christmas in the Square.