Flagler Beach, FL – The women of the Flagler Beach-based Flagler Woman’s Club may not have been able to host their traditional fundraisers, but members of their club are showing their versatility by pivoting and creating fundraisers to meet the accessibility and needs of their community – all while marking 75 years in operation.
With a roster of organizations the club supports, fundraising is a big part of their focus each year, and members have been especially helpful over the past 12 months coming up with ideas to sustain operations and continue their community outreach.
Master seamstress Peggy Bennett wowed members with her intricate handiwork as she created elegant masks during the height of the COVID pandemic. So popular were they, that ladies’ boutique Chez Jacqueline began carrying the exclusive line, selling the first mask in July 2020 according to store manager Shara Brodsky.
“She started out making a sippy mask and that turned into glam masks, and they are a huge hit,” said Brodsky. “Not only are they local and she’s local, but you’re helping support us as a small business. You look fabulous, and you’re protecting yourself and others.”
Clientele of the boutique loves the ability to accessorize and Bennett has been creative. From fabrics, appliques and custom orders, shoppers are snapping them up. With 100% of the proceeds going to the Flagler Woman’s Club, it’s helped the organization raise about $6,000 so far according to member Jane Mealy.
“Penny is usually in charge of the Holiday Bazaar, which we couldn’t hold this year, has decided that she would make beautiful masks,” she said. “She has made the club almost $6,000 last I looked, and part of that came through Chez Jacqueline. It’s a beautiful partnership.”
Mealy’s mother was an Austrian dressmaker with a keen eye for quality work, and after seeing the masks, Mealy was suitably impressed by Bennett’s talent.
“(My mother) would alter women’s fancy clothes, and she was very particular to the point where I wouldn’t sew with her,” shared Mealy. “I lived in New York and she moved to Florida, and finally I felt safe. I felt that my mother would look at Penny Bennett’s work and say ‘par excellence’.
Missing from the annual line up for the Flagler Woman’s Club was the spring Guns & Hoses Chili Cook-off, and the annual golf tournament is also off the event calendar for 2021. Hoping to continue their support for organizations like the Alpha Women’s Center, FWC member Ceil Bell is serving as the project chair for the inaugural “Stuff the Truck” event.
Accepting gently used and new items that will be either sold in the Alpha Women’s Center thrift store or go directly to women being assisted by the center, it’s another way to create revenue for the organization by giving, said Bell.
“We’re opening this to the community so that everyone participates,” said Bell. “We hope this is starting something that we can do a couple of times a year and really make an impact in the community.”
With little government funding, Ashley Smith, client services coordinator for Alpha Women’s Center said it’s the support of the community that is the lifeblood of their ability to help women.
“We rely mainly on church partners and donations from community members, and we are funded also through our thrift store,” she said.
Slated for Saturday, May 15th from 10 am – 3 pm, members of the club are asking Flagler residents to consider the “Stuff the Truck” event when doing their spring cleaning this year.
For more information on the Flagler Woman’s Club, call (386) 439-4811.
Featured Photo: Flagler Woman’s Club members Jane Mealy, Joan Harris, Trish Hale, Ceil Bell and Barbara MacReady. Photo courtesy Trish Hale.
