Community Service Programs

Our Community Service Programs (CSP) are implemented by 5 committees that plan projects and activities for members to make a difference in our town and state. A sampling of our projects are listed below each CSP.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Our Arts and Culture projects inspire creativity, encourage the appreciation and study of the arts, and support cultural enrichment within our community. Through these initiatives, we help foster a deeper understanding of artistic expression and its role in enhancing the human experience. A few of our Arts and Culture projects are highlighted below

• Arts Festival – Held in January, and 26 schools are invited to participate. There are categories in Literature, Visual Arts, Crafts, and Photography.
• Art Classes -We offer art programs at local community centers and senior living facilities, enriching lives through creativity and cultural engagement.
• NC Museum of Art – encouragement of members to attend art exhibits and events at the Museum
• En Plein Air – FVWC sponsors an Artist each year through the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association
• Friends of the FV Arts Center -Encourage attendance at arts and cultural events, promote membership and member donations, and support volunteer service as docents and ushers, including costumes and scenery.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Our Health and Wellness Committee promotes the well-being of women, children, seniors, and families through volunteer projects focused on safety, health education, disease prevention, food insecurity, and access to community resources. A few of our Health and Wellness projects are highlighted below.

• Fuquay-Varina Food Pantry – Members collect and donate packaged foods for local distribution.
• Backpack Buddies – Providing food for elementary students to take home once a month to their families. We collaborate with the American Legion Post #116 in Fuquay-Varina to collect, pack and distribute the food to four local elementary schools during the traditional school year.
• Elderly Love – Collaborating with Angels Among the Elderly at the Fuquay Homes for the Elderly, we contribute as needed for the distribution of essential items such as paper goods and personal care products, gift cards, holiday baked goods and provide large reusable shopping bags for the residents to fill with items at the annual Christmas Shopping Spree.
• Community Centers – Monthly engagement through Bingo, Art Classes, and special events. Members also help Meals On Wheels deliveries.
• Hope Center for Family Crisis – collect clothing, writing journals and utensils, art supplies, toys for children ages 3-21 that are staying at the center who need intervention during family and personal crisis.
• Out of the Darkness Walk – participate in the annual Community Walk and donations to American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.

EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES
Education and Libraries promote education for adults and children in the community by promoting literacy programs, librarian appreciation, and the love of a good book. A few of our Education and Libraries projects are highlighted below.

• Sallie Southall Cotton Scholarship is named after an early Woman’s Club leader who wanted to ensure educational opportunities for young girls. This scholarship opportunity is available to Fuquay-Varina High School, Southern Wake Academy, and Harnett County Central High School students.
• HOBY, or Hugh O’Brian Youth scholarships – for a rising senior at FVHS, HCHS, WSHS to attend a weeklong leadership conference at N.C.S.U.
• Mini Grants – Given in cooperation with the Town of Fuquay-Varina, these Mini Grants are awarded to teachers to help fund special projects in their classrooms.
• Fuquay-Varina Technical Scholarships – FVWC collaborates with the Town of Fuquay-Varina in interviewing, selecting, and administering these scholarships funded by the Town of Fuquay for students to attend technical schools.
• WAKE Up and Read – a Wake County literacy program with a month-long book collection for infant through fifth grade readers. These books are meant to help spark the love of reading and allow students to start a home library of their own.
• Fuquay-Varina Museums – Members volunteer to docent at the museum and volunteer for special events. Funding was provided by FVWC for museum records to be digitalized and for scanning of the original Fuquay Independent Newspapers for archives. FVWC donated funds for the restoration of the Norfolk Southern Caboose. #375.
• Backpack Buddies book donations – We donate age-appropriate books to the students receiving Backpack Buddies food items during the regular school year so that children will not only have the food they need but also have their very own books at home.
• Feminine Supply Stations – Providing feminine hygiene products to local high schools.
• Fuquay-Varina Library – Recognized as the most used library in Wake County was started by the FVWC in 1956. We donate books to our local library and support library staff with staff appreciation gifts and cards during Love Your Library Month.
• Read for the Record – Members volunteer to read books selected by Jumpstart to elementary students in local schools as part of a Jumpstart’s national shared reading day program in February to encourage reading and language development. The book is then donated to each school library.
• Read Across America -On March 2, Dr. Seuss’s birthday, members volunteer to read to elementary school children in local schools and libraries to encourage a love of reading and literacy. A copy of the featured book is then donated to each participating school library.

ENVIRONMENT

The Environment committee encourages us to become good stewards of the earth by working to preserve the world’s natural resources, protect wildlife and domesticated animals, live sustainably, beautify our communities, and enjoy nature. A few of our Environment projects are highlighted below.

• Environmental Education – Educates club members and members of the community on environmental issues and environmental stewardship with articles in our newsletters, hand-outs, and guest speakers.
• Earth and Arbor Day Celebrations – Planting trees and perennials in our town and our own yards.
• Recycling – Collect and recycle and/or repurpose items, educate our members and the community on how to properly recycle.
• Pollinator Garden – Planning ideas for a pollinator garden in our community and our yards, and member education about how and the importance of pollinator plantings.
• SPCA of Wake County – Donations of supplies and monetary support, education of adopting versus shopping for pets, how SPCA helps care for pets of women during crisis situations and for the homebound, and members volunteer in their facility.
• NC Audubon Society, NC Museum of Natural Science, NC Zoo, JC Raulston Arboretum – donations, field trips, volunteer, subscribe to memberships and publications.
• State and National Parks – Encourage, participate, visit, hike, and support their programs
• Educational field trips – Arranges for members to visit museums, gardens, parks, zoo, sanctuaries.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH
Civic Engagement and Outreach promote efforts to assist in citizenship, crime and fraud prevention, safety and disaster preparedness, homelessness and hunger reduction, military personnel and veteran appreciation, first responder appreciation, and celebrate women who serve our community. A few of our Civic Engagement and Outreach projects are highlighted below.

• Wreaths Across America – Wreaths placed at veterans’ graves in three local cemeteries in December. We collaborate with the American Legion, Scouts, schools, churches on this project.
• Fuquay-Varina Fire and Police – Appreciation gifts to first responders in memory of 9/11.
• Strong Women of Fuquay-Varina – Each month we recognize a strong woman in our community or club with an interview published in our newsletter and appreciation ceremony at our meetings. The newsletter articles are archived in the Fuquay-Varina Museums’ historical record. Also, once a year a FV Town Employee is recognized and honored. at our January meeting for the preceding year.
• SAFE of Harnett County and InterACT of Wake County– Through education to our members and the community about domestic violence, our Club and members make donations and provides essential goods as needed, invite guest speakers.
• Flag Collection – Collected tattered flags in bins at local stores for a flag retirement ceremony.
• Town projects and events – Collaborate with FV Chamber of Commerce, FV Rotary, American Legion with community events such as Run the Quay, FV Christmas Parade, Flags for Heroes, Senior Expo. Guest speakers from various organizations in town speak at our club meetings or at other meetings that are open to the community for education and awareness of their services.
• Election Information – Updates, polling place and candidate information sites for members and the public. FVWC is non-partisan and encourages voting and civic engagement.

SPECIAL PROJECTS ;

The 2026-2028 GFWC-North Carolina President’s Special Project is “Together, We have the POWER  (Partnerships, Outreach, Women, Empowerment, and Resilience) to Change the World”.

This initiative will highlight Community Partnerships with a focus on GFWC’s Signature Project: Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness & Preventions, and GFWC’s Affiliate Organizations.

By supporting this initiative, collaborating with established programs and expanding educational opportunities, FVWC joins with other clubs statewide to create meaningful and lasting change! Together, we can raise awareness, offer support, advocate for policy change, and move closer to a world without violence.

The GFWC Signature Program: Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention
Clubs worldwide united in September to engage in meaningful and purposeful community service actions to raise awareness and support programs to end domestic and sexual violence. Program focus areas: Intimate Partner Violence, Child Abuse, Teen Dating Violence, Campus Sexual Assault, Elder Abuse, Violence Against Native American Women, Military Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking for sexual purposes. FVWC is one of over 3000 clubs worldwide that participate in this annual program.

Each year, we host an annual Women FORE Women golf tournament to raise funds for our Community Service Programs and for local organizations that support women and children escaping crisis situations. But our commitment doesn’t stop at fundraising. We actively educate ourselves and our community about the vital work these organizations do, shining a light on the challenges faced by survivors and the resources available to help them rebuild. Through advocacy, we push for legislation that funds education and prevention programs—and we stand firm in support of laws that hold perpetrators of violence accountable.

Together, we believe in creating a safer, more informed, and more compassionate community. Every swing, every dollar, and every conversation moves us closer to that goal.

Did you know? The World Health Organization estimates that over 900 million women, aged 15 and older, have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence. Just in the U.S., more than 20million people are affected every year according to the CDC.

Get help!!! The Fuquay-Varina Police Department collaborates with InterAct of Wake County to actively assist with domestic violence cases with law enforcement and comprehensive support services. This partnership provides victims with access to emergency shelters, counseling, legal advocacy, and safety planning.

Call 911 for immediate assistance if unsafe or in danger. For non-emergencies (919) 552-3191

InterAct of Wake County 24-hour hotline (919)828-7740 for confidential support and information. Visit interactofwake.org to learn more about the resources they provide.

Join the Fuquay Varina Against Domestic Violence at facebook.com for announcements when a staff member of InterAct will be at the FV Police Department

National Domestic Violence 24-hour crisis Hotline 1-800-799-7233