Advocates for Children Week

By NJSFWC | October 6, 2019

GFWC Advocates for Children Week is October 20–26! The idea is to raise awareness of GFWC’s child advocacy efforts. Clubs are invited to take on projects or plan events in their communities, partnering with groups working with children.

Even if you missed the actual week, it’s not too late to participate. You might start by looking at the Advocates for Children Supplement distributed to club presidents and published in the NJSFWC Yearbook. There you will find contact information for organizations, ideas for events your club might sponsor, and resources available to your club. To ensure enthusiasm and support, take a few minutes to brainstorm at a club meeting to identify what your club will do, starting by reminding members that needs span all ages, from infant through teen, and are shared by both boys and girls.

If you are doing a special project, finalizing all project details in advance will allow you to distribute a more informative press release to local reporters. See the GFWC’s press release template under “P” Resources on the GFWC website.

If your club still hasn’t selected an Advocates for Children Week project, consider these ideas:

  • Host a screening of the impactful video “Not My Kid” at your next club meeting to help parents and grandparents watch for the signs of a teen in crisis.
  • Collect toiletry items such as lotion, toothbrush/toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, and create care packages for moms with babies in a neonatal intensive care unit.
  • Sponsor a Body Confidence Seminar for girls to help our younger generation look beyond appearance and increase self-esteem. Find resources.

Among the projects submitted in 2018 year-end reports was “Sock It to Cancer” from the North Arlington Woman’s Club. The project received the Club Creativity Award and was submitted to GFWC. They recognized that hospital patient and treatment rooms are often monotone, that floors are cold, and that slipper socks provided by hospitals are not interesting to children. They collected socks with bright colors and fun designs that could be worn under hospital slipper socks and donated them to a local pediatric cancer center. If you decide to do a project like this, be sure to check with the hospital first to determine if in-person visits or deliveries are permitted or if there might be a photo op to get publicity for your club. Even if items must be mailed, know that you have helped bring a smile to the face of a child.

Let GFWC know how your project went! Send your Volunteers in Action success stories to [email protected] to be considered for the GFWC Blog.

About Advocates for Children

The NJSFWC Advocates for Children program seeks to make a difference in our world by becoming advocates for children. Members may choose to organize projects that benefit children in their community, state, or the world.

Clubwomen can become advocates by working to:

  • Ensure that children are protected from harmful situations
  • Encourage healthy physical and emotional lifestyles
  • Impact policy to improve children’s lives

While project ideas are numerous, clubs are encouraged to educate themselves regarding current issues facing our children:

  • Child Abuse
  • Health issues
  • Poverty
  • Cyberbullying
  • Teen dating violence
  • Childhood obesity
  • Texting while driving
  • Depression and suicide
  • Foster care and adoption
  • Limits on screen time
  • Childhood safety issues