Flagler Beach, FL (May 15, 2021) – They started dropping off items long before the truck arrived, but when members of the Alpha Women’s Center rolled up to the Flagler Woman’s Club on Saturday morning, the donations continued as residents pulled in, one after the other, to help “Stuff the Truck”.
Set to restock the Alpha Women’s Center Thrift Store, Ashley Smith, client services coordinator, says sales of the donated items help sustain the nonprofit women’s organization that offers support and necessities during times of unplanned or unexpected pregnancy.
Working with clients of all ages, Smith was honored by the Flagler Woman’s Club’s selection of the nonprofit as one of a dozen supported annually through fundraising efforts and events hosted by local women.
“We are so grateful for the Flagler Woman’s Club,” she said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to receive all of this and it’s how we survive. This is how we’re able to give back to the community, through the donations and generosity of people in the community.”
That give back includes helping expectant mothers with pricey necessities.
“After every class we give them diapers, wipes and articles of clothing. We also have toys and baby materials that we give them for attending parenting classes,” said Smith.
Helping with the heavy lifting, ten year volunteer John Spina spoke from the heart about serving and the center’s mission as he transferred donated goods from the trunks of vehicles into the box truck.
“Just saving the life of the unborn is so important to us. It means a lot,” he said. “Every baby that we save is a joy. It’s been a part of me for a long time and it’s a pleasure to serve with Alpha Women’s Center because I know what their cause is. The Lord has just been real good to us.”
After canceling their annual line up of events including the popular Guns N’ Hoses Chili Challenge, and their golf tournament, Flagler Woman’s Club member Barb MacReady was among those volunteering on Saturday morning and planning for the return of the club’s annual events, alongside “Stuff the Truck” event chairwoman Ceil Bell.
“It’s fabulous. We started at 10 o’clock and we’re going until 3. We had so many people pre-drop things that our back room here at the club was loaded with stuff,” Bell said proudly.
Donations included gently used bedding, kitchen ware, pots and pans, home décor. Others dropped off baby items including new packages of diapers and wipes.
“The Alpha Women’s Center counsels women who find themselves surprisingly pregnant and don’t know which way to turn. They counsel them on parenting and adoption. Their thrift store also has a baby boutique where mothers can go,” explained Bell.
Celebrating their 75th year in operation, Fran Paslowski, a member since 1991 says the organization has raised and disbursed a considerable amount of funds back into the community over the years, and unique events like “Stuff the Truck” are helping bring members back to the clubhouse post COVID.
“I joined to be active and meet nice people,” she said. “Because of COVID normally we would be doing this in-house having a rummage sale, we’d make a lot of money that would turn around and go into the community. This is good for the club because it brings members who have been staying home and brought the people to the club, and made them active.”
Featured Photo: A team effort by Alpha Women’s Center and the Flagler Woman’s Club to “Stuff the Truck” on Saturday, May 15, 2021.
