Photo provided Junior Women’s Club of Barnesville President Peggy Hickenbottom, left, receives her pin from OFWC State Treasurer Deidra Devore after being sworn in

BARNESVILLE — The Junior Women’s Club of Barnesville announces its new leadership for the 2022-24 term. JWC is a not-for-profit General Federation of Women’s Clubs affiliate, which is a social group for women who are the hearts of not only of the Federation and Ohio GFWC, but the community of Barnesville.

Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs State Treasurer Deidra Devore swore in Peggy Hickenbottom as president, Sherry McClellan as vice-president, Brenda Delman as secretary, Julie Starr as corresponding secretary, Lou Ann Swallie as treasurer, Tammy Van Horn as assistant treasurer and Cindy Ferguson as Parliamentarian.

Devore performed the pinning installation of officers with an inspirational theme depicting the colors of the rainbow stating that the club has been an inspiration to other clubs and their community for years and was thankful to be asked to perform the installation.

JWC supports the community of Barnesville by living the volunteer spirit. Their clubwomen transform lives each day, not simply with monetary donations, but with hands-on tangible projects that provide immediate impact.

Hickenbottom said she is honored for the opportunity to serve as the 67th clubwoman president. As a club, it’s inspiring and extremely impressive that it has served the community of Barnesville for the past 87 years. Forming during a time when the cost of gas was 10 cents and you could buy a loaf of bread for 9 cents, according to club officials.

Today, JWC create positive changes in community through Domestic Violence and Sexual Awareness and Prevention projects like providing Dating Abuse Awareness pamphlets for teenagers, displaying purple pinwheels for Domestic Violence and blue for Child Abuse Awareness, donating personal care items and underclothing for batter women and their children, painted and donated furniture and carpeting for a room at a safe house and participates each year in the Tri-County Help Center Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Walk.

Arts and Culture project works closely with the local school to organize an Artisan Fair for 5th graders and coordinated with Village members on repainting community welcome signs. Presentations offered on button collecting, pottery making, drawing face characters, the art of mural painting and history of our local museum. Did an amazing job organizing the Strawberry Princess Contest.

Civic Engagement and Community Outreach is a very busy committee that works with law enforcement and fire departments with community events. Trunk or Trick, Ladies Start Your Engines, a Touch a Truck in the Park and provided a Stop Bullying Mat for 3rd graders. The club also supports UNICEF, Heifer Project, HOBY, Giving Back to Veterans projects, and Angel and Mitten Tree giveaways. It also has collected blankets and towels for a local warming shelter and supports Three C Cancer.

Education and Libraries are currently preparing for the back-to-school backpack program to give away free school supplies, participates and purchased books for the Storybook Park event, awards a $500 scholarship annually to a high school senior on the meaning of volunteerism, supports Dolly Parton Imagination project, RIF, and the ESO.

Environment committee members work hard stressing the need to recycle and currently are working on collecting used shopping bags to obtain a park bench for the community, used mascara wands to help support wildlife rescues for small animals, empty pill bottles to be repurposed to send medicines to third world countries. Maintains the beautification of two community flowerbeds, and creates beautiful grave pillows, blankets and vase arrangements using live pine. It donated pop tabs to support the Ronald McDonald’s House and the mascot was Pop Tab Pete. Supports Arbor Day and helped to plant tree seedlings and sponsored Ohio highway clean-up project. Collected blankets, sheets, towels and made toys for the animal shelter.

Health and Wellness recently won a national award from GFWC for the club’s effort in donating dental care products to local food pantry, participated in the food drive sponsored by the postal service, worked closely with local grocery store to collect and deliver bags of donated food to the pantry, helps at a monthly food distribution giving away through Mid-Ohio Food Bank, supports weekend backpack program for at risk kids, participated in organizing COVID test site, handed out masks for both adults and children, provided seniors with bags to dispose of medication appropriately, held corn hole tournament with senior citizens, and helped elderly with identifying out of date food from their cupboards.

McClellan, former OFWC Director of Junior Clubs expressed that as you can see there is something that every woman can identify with and can feel passion about getting involved. The aforementioned is a small portion of the clubwomen’s accomplishments over the years. The smallest of ideas can make a difference in someone’s life. The club invites women to come join in and create positive changes together. The opportunity to grow and network with women who are diverse in age and experience is now.

The club’s newly appointed officers are ready to welcome new members. The club meets the third Wednesday of each month September-May. For more information, call 740-619-0015 and leave a message.