As an organization dedicated to community improvement our charitable works include fundraising, community projects, recognition for community service and social events.

There are many charitable projects our club initiates and implements.  We also participate in other community events organized by other clubs and organizations (i.e. Relay for Life organized by the American Cancer Society).
 

Education

• Scholarships
  Our Scholarship Program offers two high school seniors from Kenosha County an opportunity to earn up to a $2,000 scholarship.  Depending on funds available, secondary scholarships may also be awarded for runner-up students.  If you are interested in applying for our scholarship, complete this scholarship application.  If you have questions about our scholarship program, please contact us at scholarship@kenoshajuniors.org.
   

• Libraries 2000
  Libraries 2000 is a program in which we donate money to be used for the elementary school library in a low-income area.  Generally, we donate $200 in new books for the school.  A new school is chosen each year.  If you would like more information about Libraries 2000, please e-mail us at info@kenoshajuniors.org.

Conservation

• Keep Kenosha Beautiful
  Keep Kenosha Beautiful is a program in which we participate in cleaning up a city park.  Washington Park has been our target for the past several years and last year club members and their families recycled 18 lbs and disposed of 45 lbs of trash from the park.  We have chosen the first Saturday morning every month throughout the warm weather season.  Members are encouraged to bring along family members, including children and grandchildren, to help out.  Garbage bags and gloves are provided.
  
  

• Woodsy Owl
  Woodsy Owl is our program with which we teach kindergarten students throughout the City of Kenosha about conservation.  We try to visit any kindergarten in the city, both public and private, that would like to have us visit.  We choose one of the older students from the school to actually wear our Woodsy Owl costume.  We talk about conservation, sing the Woodsy Owl song with the kids and show a video starring Woodsy.

Our conservation program introduces children to:

1. Three types of pollution:  noise, water, air.
2. Recycling
3. Litter
4. What they can do in Kenosha to keep America beautiful.

The program includes a 10 minute video where Woodsy Owl visits a school during a science fair.  The students are displaying their various science projects.  The students are part of the “Woodsy Team” to help keep America looking great and sing the Woodsy song as they clean up a play ground.

Following the short video, the presenter talks to the students about the video and shows examples of what items can be recycled, shows examples of litter and what each person can do to put litter in its proper place.

Using a volunteer or a 5^th grade student, Woodsy Owl makes a surprise visit to the students and they sing the Woodsy Song to him.  The presenter has the children do the chant, “Give a hoot, don’t pollute” plus tell him that they would like to be part of the Woodsy Team.

Depending on the teacher’s preference, the students have their class picture with Woodsy and give him a hug as they leave.

Woodsy also leaves a coloring picture for the children to do that is a picture of Woodsy.

The teachers need to provide a large room for the students to gather, a video projector, screen or TV, and a volunteer or 5^th grade student to wear the costume.  Once in the costume, going on stair steps must be avoided.  Woodsy’s feet are so long, it would be hazardous to do stairs.  We do the rest.

If you would like to arrange a visit, please complete this application:

Woodsy Owl Request Form

Home Life

• Quilting for Newborns
  Quilting for Newborns is traditionally held in January at the Kenosha Woman's Club clubhouse. At this meeting we make small quilts for premature babies who have extended stays in neo-natal units of hospitals. Our club normally makes about thirty quilts during the evening.
  
  
   

• Easter Egg Hunt
  Traditionally our Easter Egg Hunt is held 2 weeks prior to Easter.  In the past, invitations have been extended to children from the Urban League as well as the children and grandchildren of our club members.  Breakfast is served; there are crafts, coloring as well as a visit from the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt for all the kids.  Local community businesses extend their generosity by providing small donations to this event.
  

• Community Walks and Runs
  We keep updated on the walks and runs in the area in which we can participate and those who wish to run or walk to raise money for other charities in Kenosha and surrounding areas may sign up and take pledges to help out.  Club members are also asked to assist in administrative preparation or on-site.
  

• Soup Kitchen
  Once a month, (usually the second Thursday of the month) KJWC members can serve soup and sandwiches at the Soup Kitchen in Kenosha at the Shalom Center.  Hours are from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
  

• Meals on Wheels
  This is another wonderful project in which we serve meals and provide a little friendship for the elderly who cannot get out and have difficulty preparing meals for themselves. Often, we “sub in” for clients who traditionally serve during the spring, summer, and fall months by volunteers who leave for the South during the winter.
  

• Thanksgiving Holiday House
  This project involves helping with the administration and fulfillment of creating Thanksgiving dinner baskets for needy residents of Kenosha County.  The event is usually over a 3 day period of time and takes place the week before Thanksgiving.

Public Affairs

• Citizenship Awards
  Every year, we award Citizenship Awards to a boy and girl from each Kenosha elementary school graduating from Grade 5 and from Grade 8. Students are selected by their teachers and principal based on their outstanding character, service and leadership. Kenosha Junior Women’s Club members present the awards usually at the school’s year-end assembly.
   

• Theodora Youman Citizenship Award
  The Theodora Youman Citizenship Award is presented annually by the Wisconsin Federation of Women’s Clubs to a Wisconsin woman who has made the most notable contribution to good citizenship during the previous year.  If you know of someone you would like to nominate for the Theodora Youman Citizenship Award please e-mail us at:  info@kenoshajuniors.org.

Social

• Autumn Auction
  This is a social event for KJWC members and guests.  Each member donates two items to be auctioned off by a real auctioneer.  Handmade items are especially welcomed and many items are decorated items for fall or Christmas. It’s fun to see all the creative ideas and fun to bid and win.  Everyone is a winner at this event.
  

• Book Club
  Each month a book is chosen by the Book Club chairperson and members who are interested read the book and then get together to discuss the book, the author’s writing style, etc.  This is an excellent time to get together over a cup of coffee and share your interpretation of the book.
  

• Chili Night
  Another one of our social events is known as Chili Night and is held in the fall at a member’s home.  Spouses, relatives or friends are welcome.  Club members sign up to bring a sampling of their favorite Chili receipt, appetizer or dessert.  This is a fun, relaxing evening with a chance to meet in an informal setting with our friends.
  

• Theatre Night
  Theater night is usually held in late winter or early spring at a member’s home.  Members and their guests bring appetizers to share before heading off to a live theater production of the Lakeside Players in Kenosha.  This is a fun evening and a good way to break up the long winter.
  

• Secret Pal
  KJWC members who decide to participate are paired up with a “secret pal”.  They are given information such as their secret pal’s favorite colors, likes and dislikes and anything special they collect.  Then, they are given their secret pal’s important dates, such as birthday, anniversary, etc.  When important holidays or other important days arrive, the secret pals give each other a small gift.  Secret pals reveal their identity at our June dinner.
  

• Ornament Exchange
  Members can participate in an ornament exchange at our holiday party in December.  Everyone who would like to participate brings a wrapped ornament to put under the tree.  This is a fun way to give and receive new tree ornaments.

If you would like more information about any of our activities, please e-mail us at info@kenoshajuniors.org.