WIN - Women Involved in Newtown

WIN - Women Involved in Newtown  Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) is a non-profit organization made up of women of all ages from all over Newtown who are interested in working together for the goodwill of our community.  Our meetings are once a month from September to June, usually on the second Monday of the month at 7:30 PM.  Meetings are at a different member's home each month and we take turns providing food and drinks. Directions to each month's meeting are sent in a monthly email. Membership dues ($25) are payable in September and once paid ensure that you will receive the monthly meeting minutes via email.

If becoming an Active Member is too much of a time commitment, you can receive the email minutes each month as an Associate Member. Associate Members are not required to attend monthly meetings, but are kept apprised of our activities via email and may choose to participate in any of our activities as their interest dictates and schedule allows.  WIN works as a group on various projects throughout the year, with individual members choosing to lend a hand where their help is best suited.  All money raised by Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) goes toward funding our annual projects explained below.

WIN ACTIVITIES

• THANKSGIVING BASKETS

This town-wide event is organized by WIN. Social Services provides WIN with a list of families in Newtown who are in need, which we match with various volunteer sponsors (Girl Scouts, church groups, local businesses, individual families, etc.). Each sponsor provides holiday "fixings" (turkey or ham, stuffing, etc.) and groceries (canned goods, cereal and even pet food) to last the assigned family for an entire month.  WIN provides milk, eggs and butter. On the Friday prior to Thanksgiving, all items are collected and divided into boxes and bags for the families to pick up later in the day (some deliveries are also made).  All WIN members are called upon for this event, even if only for an hour with a preschooler in tow!  Note:  You do not need to be a member to participate - all help is appreciated, including teens looking for community service hours.

• VOTING ENUMERATION

Each year, WIN volunteers (often accompanied by husbands!) serve as enumerators for Newtown elections the first Tuesday in November.  This is considered a fund-raising activity as WIN receives payment for this service.

•  AMBULANCE ENVELOPES

WIN members meet to stuff envelopes for the Newtown Ambulance's annual fundraiser. Pizza is provided and older children are welcome - older means old enough to sit with you and stuff envelopes!  This is a great opportunity for kids who need community service hours.

•  HOLIDAY FAMILY SPONSORSHIP

Every year, WIN sponsors one Newtown family in need. Social Services provides us with a description of the family members (sex and age) and a list of their needs/desires for the holiday. Very often the wish list is simply necessity items, such as clothing. WIN shops for these items and wraps everything for delivery in time for the holidays.

• RED CROSS SANDWICHES

WIN Members provide homemade sandwiches for distribution to blood donors at the Newtown Lions' Red Cross blood drive(s). Each participating member usually provides two loaves of bread worth of sandwiches and/or brownies, packaged individually.

• FESTIVAL OF TREES

WIN is asked to donate a decorated tree for the Festival of Trees each winter. The Christmas trees are then auctioned off for charity.

• EASTER BASKETS

WIN Members stuff Easter baskets filled with candy (partly donated and partly purchased by WIN), stuffed animals, and goodies, which are distributed to needy children in town and the surrounding area.  We also collect stuffed animals all year long that are used in this effort (extra stuffed animals are sent to Africa with Danbury doctors who volunteer their time there).

• LITE THE NIGHT

This is the first year WIN will participate in Light the Night being held in late October. This event is a smaller scale of Relay for Life.

• WIN SCHOLARSHIP

Each year WIN provides a scholarship to a deserving female high school student who has excelled in community service. Applications are submitted and WIN members vote on the winning candidate.

•  DONATIONS

Please note that Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) accepts donations year-round.  If you are interested in making a charitable contribution of any amount, we are a 501(c)3 classified Non-Profit Organization and all contributions are considered tax-deductible.  WIN, P.O Box 286, Newtown, CT 06470.

If you would like to become a member of Women Involved in Newtown (WIN), please email us and we'll pass along your request (we know people who are WINners!)  ~ Visit Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) at their new website www.WINCT.org!