Hastings Mayor David Tossava attended a special meeting of the GFWC-Hastings Women’s Club Nov. 1 and presented them with an Official Proclamation from the City of Hastings recognizing the active club for its contributions to the city and area residents in its 125 years in existence.

 

The GFWC-Hastings Women's Club was founded on October 23, 1893, at the invitation of Frances Wheeler Smith, to further the knowledge and self-improvement of its members and to work for civic improvement.  The club adopted as its main goal the establishment of a library, opened the first library in 1895 and continues to support the library today, Tossava read from the proclamation.

 

The club initiated the first senior citizens assistance programs, now the Commission on Aging, the first Hastings Camp Fire Girls Association and the first projects to beautify Hastings, he said.

 

The club supports youth, sponsoring the Hastings High School Senior Girls Tea and the Jump Start Your Future Scholarship for Senior Girls, donates to the YMCA for camp scholarships, and elementary schools with reading programs and donations of hats and gloves.

 

The group sponsors a scholarship for women in the community returning back to school in the nursing field, and supports Hastings National Night Out, Green Gables Haven, the Family Support Center, Safe Harbor and Women at Risk in Human Trafficking, the local and national food banks, and its sister states of Florida and Texas in rebuilding libraries following Hurricane Harvey, Tossava said.  

 

The club also supports conservation efforts for clean water and recycling in the city, townships and state and remains steadfastly dedicated to its goal of furthering knowledge and self-improvement, he said.