What to wear, what to wear. . . .

We didn't mean to make this perennial question more difficult by giving crew assignments the morning of the event. We think the best bet is for you to wear casual, comfortable clothes you'd wear to do projects indoors or out at home. Layering will help you adapt to the day's weather as well as project-site conditions; you might throw a paint shirt and a rain jacket in your car.

Bottom line: We're not volunteering anyplace where you can't be casual. And we'd rather not have you regret damage to favorite clothing!

Agencies we'll serve on Women's Volunteer Day

We've worked with a number of agencies in the Holland/Zeeland area; what they have in common is programs or services that support women and children. To learn more about each agency--or to explore other opportunities to volunteer or donate needed items--check out their websites or contact them directly:
Center for Women in Transition
Community Action House
Evergreen Commons
Girls on the Run
Good Samaritan Ministries
Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity
Holland Rescue Mission
Hospice of Holland
My Sister's House, an adult foster care facility sponsored by the Holland Deacons' Conference

Starting location for Women's Volunteer Day

We start our day at Hope Church, which graciously supports our event through the use of their facility. It's right downtown in Holland, 77 West 11th Street, just west of Centennial Park; if you haven't been there before, here's a map that will make it easy to find. Please plan to arrive between 8 and 8:15 a.m. Carpooling is always a good idea; otherwise reserve a few minutes for parking. There's a church parking lot, but it's small; there's also city-parking-lot and street parking a block or less away.

Introducing the WVD Planning Team

Who are these women? The specific answer first: In the back row, left to right, Waltraud Beckmann, Carrie [Schroeck] Ypma, Lois Maassen, Avril Wiers, and Cheryl Murdoch; in the front, Marcia Davis, Cindy DeGraaf, and Sue Gadbois.

More generally, we are women who've had the privilege of knowing one another through intersections in our careers (except Avril, who has a family connection). We discovered common values in a couple of areas:

• Issues facing women and children everywhere, but especially within our community, where we feel some ability to pitch in
  
• The power and joy of working together to make a difference
  
• The belief that women can support each other, across many divides that we sometimes let stop us too easily, if we tend to our networks
  

2008 is the seventh year we're undertaking this project together. During those seven years, we've sent children off to elementary school and college, changed jobs, gotten married, graduated from high school, retired, and so much more. It's been a pleasure to share it with one another.