Empowering Women Through Service and Advocacy
Our Zonta Club is proud to be participating in Zonta International’s Twinning Program, whose mission is to foster global connections, exchange knowledge and promote fellowship among clubs around the world. Through twinning, Zonta clubs gain valuable opportunities to learn from one another and strengthen their collective impact. We are paired with a club in Australia and look forward to sharing ideas. Look for more details in the coming months!
At our March meeting, the Program Committee presented a video entitled “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” to our members. March 8th is International Women’s Day as well as Zonta Rose Day, so the topic was very timely. After the video, several Club members shared their career challenges working in male dominated work arenas. It was hoped that many of the young women of today will no longer find themselves in similar situations, and that greater equality between the genders would exist.
At our June 2024 meeting, a representative from Jonnycake Center of Westerly spoke about the programs and services her organization provides to Washington County and surrounding area residents. Over 3000 families take advantage of their food bank. They also provide social services, financial aid, housing assistance, job training and more. They rely heavily on donations of money and goods, as well as volunteers to assist with their thrift shop, where 50% of their funds come from. In May 2025, the Center will celebrate 50 years of serving the community.
At the April 9 meeting of the Zonta Club of South County, guest speaker Elizabeth McGann, Program Manager for Girls on the Run Rhode Island shared information about this local group of an international organization and their mission to support girls, helping them discover, build and grow their self-confidence.
In January, the Zonta Club of South County held a paper drive in response to the Domestic Violence Resource Center’s urgent request for paper products. We donated 65 rolls of paper towels, 111 rolls of toilet paper, 18 boxes of tissues and 3 packages of paper napkins. See the thank you note from DVRC below.