GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES longtime member, ANIKO SOLOMONSON, has single-handedly made a cottage industry of crocheting recycled plastic bags into weatherproof sleep mats which she has distributed to the area homeless since 2014. Ms. Solomonson has taught fellow club members and many other groups how to fold the bags into lengths of “rope” and crochet them into mats. Members, under Aniko’s guidance, have saved countless vehicles full of recycled plastics from going to landfills and have helped those living on the streets with these sleep mats. Aniko alone has produced 300+ mats and delivered many to The Well, which serves the home-insecure population in Tampa. Ms. Solomonson has temporarily halted this project to give priority to sewing more than 70 face masks for various groups and, post-corona, will be resume her “mat” work.

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB members, although curtailed during the corona ‘shelter at home’ necessity, Sabrina Scott and Nancy Swanton observed safe-distancing and wore masks while planting a “Pinwheel Garden” to bring awareness to the Prevention of Child Abuse. April is traditionally the month during which projects and events are put in place by the Woman’s Club to bring this issue to the forefront in our community. The garden has been planted in front of the historic Old Lutz School in downtown Lutz.

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB members continue its massive face mask production line, however safely alone at home per corona regulations.

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB members coordinated and executed a wonderful special Birthday Parade past longtime member, Elaine Pittman’s home to celebrate her 89th.

Honking cars lined her street, each with signs, balloons, messages and cards to celebrate and honor their dear Elaine, a/k/a throughout the community as the “Plant Lady” and longtime supporter of Christian Social Services food pantry. In this time of corona “safe at home” it was necessary to do things differently so they chose a long parade of at least 30 vehicles as well-wishers from the neighborhood joined in.

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB is so grateful that it was able to put on its very popular Fabulous Flea Market early this month before the corona virus had brought almost everything in our lives to a screeching halt. The club is very relieved that their Flea was a big success as its 2nd largest annual fundraiser, which enables them to be generous to our community and beyond with its myriad of projects. Even the aftermath of leftover donations benefit numerous non-profit groups and organizations, so its impact is a wide one on the community, especially now when needs are so great.

GFWC LUTZ-LAND O’LAKES WOMAN’S CLUB’s longtime Sunshine Committee Chair, Gloria Dale, in addition to her day job of sending out 1000s of handwritten holiday and greeting cards to veterans, military, seniors, nursing homes and VA hospital patients, has amassed a huge amount of bottle caps which were to be recycled into garden benches for veterans’ facilities. This project, however, has been cancelled and the Woman’s Club would like to donate these plastic caps to a local non-profit group which may have a recycling use. Ms. Dale has painstakingly counted well over 6000 caps. Please contact the Woman’s Club through its website: www.gfwclutzlandolakeswomansclub.org OR its Facebook page if your group has a good use for these caps. Help us save the landfill space!