Photos by Edwina Kraemer

Photo 1: Hacienda Board Member & GFWC FL Member Liasion, Sarah Anthony & Woman’s Club Member, Edwina R. Kraemer Photo 2: Ms. Kraemer’s SUV filled with clothing and supplies for Hacienda Girls Ranch

GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club has long supported Hacienda Girls Ranch in Melbourne, Florida. The Girls Ranch is the oldest GFWC Florida project and is a transitional residence for girls 10-17 years and young women over 18 but still in school. The young ladies are placed at Hacienda Girls Ranch due to dire circumstances of abandonment, divorce, neglect and/or abuse. Edwina R. Kraemer, District 8 Chair of this President’s Project, recently solicited, collected and delivered her SUV full of clothing, toiletries, shoes and other essentials for the girls to a very grateful GFWC Florida Club Liasion and Hacienda Board Member, Sarah Anthony.

The Visit

There were 8 boxes of clothes, jewelry and hygiene products given to a very grateful GFWC FL club liaison and Hacienda Board Member, Sarah Anthony. We learned from her that the entire Ranch is full with 14 girls (10-17 years old) and 7 young ladies in the transitional housing (over18 but not out of school).

The transitional housing guests are required to pay for a portion of their housing. This is where your generous gifts are critical. Towels, bed in a bag, food items or anything someone needs to live independently in a home. These girls have requirements and rules to follow. Sarah Anthony spoke about the circumstances by which these girls come to Hacienda Girls Ranch – abandonment, divorce, neglect, or abuse. How comforting your gifts are to them!

Thank you again for your generosity!

GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club members, as part of their Conservation Dept. educational project, participated in a birding field trip to Flatwoods Wilderness Park and learned much about native plants.

In addition to learning more information on the Eastern Bluebird, the ladies were excited to find a fossilized bone believed to be from a precursor to the manatee.

As a thank you to their guides, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club donated 2 bluebird boxes to Flatwoods Wilderness Park.

GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club members turned up at the Old Lutz School bearing rakes, shovels and wearing work gloves as a Conservation Project. They weeded, raked, cleaned the flower beds and replanted the flower pots which they donated last year.

The Woman’s Club has a close attachment to this historic registered landmark building and noticed that the landscaping needed a little refreshing.

Photo submitted by Doris Ramaglia
Photo (left to right): Chair Donna Losch, Sharon J. Bard, Lonna Vizzari & Doris Ramaglia (not in picture).

GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club recently held its semi-annual bake sale to benefit the Lopez Veteran’s Nursing Home residents’ petty cash fund.

The proceeds will allow the veterans to enjoy a shopping trip for personal items and/or a snack at a fast food restaurant for a change of pace.

Club members, under the direction of Chair Donna Losch, baked homemade treats for sale to the residents, staff and visitors. The Woman’s Club has long supported the Lopez Veteran’s Nursing Home through these bake sales as well as conducting fun monthly bingo games with prizes and homemade strawberry shortcake for the residents.

GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club members recently partnered with Tampa Gem Sertoma and dual club members, Ms. Barton, Ms. Robles & Ms. Fisher, to form and sponsor a team for the “Celebrate Sound” / Don’t Walk in Silence 5K fundraiser.

The Woman’s Club made a generous contribution to this fundraiser event as well as walking the 5K walk which was held at USF in support of hearing health awareness.

This fundraiser project was sponsored by Sertoma International.