GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB’s talented artists and crafters won many blue ribbons in the recent GFWC District 8 Arts & Crafts Competition hosted at the Tampa Woman’s Club.  Member Dolores Tarafa truly brought home the “Blue” by winning TWO First Place blue ribbons AND the “Best in Show” Ribbon as well for her colored pencil rendering of a delightful rabbit.

Her other winning entry was a glass and wire piece featuring tree and a giraffe.  Ms. Tarafa and the other club members’ winning pieces will now advance to the GFWC Florida competition in Orlando.  Congratulations and good luck to Dolores and all her club sister artists in the upcoming statewide competition. 

 

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB members attended the dedication of the most recently completed Habitat for Humanity new home in Dade City and presented the homeowners their congratulations together with housewarming gifts on behalf of their club.  The Woman’s Club has generously supported Habitat for Humanity for many decades.

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB members’ work on its Sensory Garden has progressed and taken shape with a very colorful look with planter containers brightly painted and fashioned into floral petal shapes from recycled tires and newly planted with perennials which promise to attract butterflies and bees.  This garden has been established “from scratch” by the Woman’s Club to serve as a fun, colorful and quiet place of enjoyment for autistic and special needs children on the grounds of Camp Idlewild in Land O’Lakes.

 

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB members filled 25 backpacks (donated by Architectural Signage in Land O’Lakes) with member-donated cold weather wear such as hats, gloves, sweaters, sweatshirts and scarves for those in need.  Club president Elayne Bassinger and members Dee Knerr and Nancy Taylor delivered the backpacks for distribution by The Rope/Core Center in Hudson, which serves housing-insecure veterans and the homeless population.  This was one of many acts of kindness and generosity by this volunteer organization during the month of February in keeping with “GFWC Florida Days of Service”.

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB members raised funds through its Arts & Culture Committee programs to purchase and install a beautiful large elm tree standing 15 feet tall in the club-designated garden at Camp Idlewild in Land O’Lakes.  The height and heft of the tree required a bobcat in order to place it.  Chair Lois Cohen and club President Elayne Bassinger were onsite to supervise the placement of the tree installation in their Sensory Garden to benefit autistic children and others who enjoy this special needs camp.  The Woman’s Club began this special project literally from scratch in a bare field at the camp by plotting the garden, laying gravel pathways, installing a sprinkler system and placing beautiful arches, colorful garden benches and a special sculpture piece as well as colorful pickets bordering the pathways and a very cute caterpillar “train” for the kids to have fun with.  As soon as the weather is a bit warmer, the clubwomen will continue to add special features to the garden and plant a number of flowering plants and shrubs which will attract butterflies birds and bees, all
for the enjoyment of special children outdoors in nature.

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB sewing team members have produced 40 comfort pillows, 10 baby blankets, numerous port protectors, hats and turbans which were delivered by Chairperson Pam Blumenthal to Moffitt Cancer Center and Advent Health Hospital.  These items are regularly handcrafted and delivered to local hospitals where they are most enthusiastically received by the staff and requests are always made for more because the need is so great.