BY MELISSA PYLE
Special to the Telegraph
The Women’s Club of Starke hosted its inaugural luncheon for the 2025-26 membership year on Sept. 13. The event was a celebratory occasion that featured speakers, donations to local charities and votes for new members.
Club President Sheila Barnes opened the event by sharing her heartfelt vision for the upcoming year. Barnes said the event was about moving forward together with excitement and purpose. Barnes had set a goal to increase membership and that goal exceeded her expectations with a 40% increase, adding 22 new members. The mission of the club is to enrich the community with volunteer work and financial support for local charities, which they did by making monetary donations to two local charities: Bradford Community for Schools and Chesed House maternity shelter.
Barnes said, “The heart of this club beats strongest when we give back to others … and together we grow, serve and make a meaningful difference in our community.” The club has a long, rich history of philanthropic work in Bradford County, dating back to the late 19th century. One of their earliest projects was furnishing a room in the school and providing books for students.
Support for the school and its students is still top of the agenda, with guest speaker Cindy DeValerio, director of Bradford Community for Schools, sharing how the program at Bradford High School impacts students and their families. She shared that their mission is to connect with students by surrounding them with a caring community. Much of this caring community is composed of active members of the club. These members and others are helping the organization achieve this goal through mentoring, meals for students, scholarships, and a free clothes and supply closet on campus called The Hanger.
Most recently, BCFS provided a summer work program for 19 students. These students were employed by local businesses and mentored in a real job setting. The students’ salaries were paid for by a grant secured by the organization. Students in the job program were paid $13 an hour and taught financial literacy. DeValerio said, “The goal is ultimately life success.”
Life success is a core part of the mission of the ladies of the Women’s Club. Through fundraising events like dinner theatre, a fall market and gift shows, the club raises funds to give to these organizations and many others that promote life success. The club presented a $1,000 donation to BCFS and $1,200 to Chesed House.
Chesed House is the only maternity homeless shelter in Bradford and Alachua counties. Chesed house provides shelter for expectant mothers and their children. Chesed House board member Lisa Prevatt accepted the donation on behalf of the ministry and said, “Cindy’s program is so proactive, it helps give young men and young women ready for life in the future to be successful, but Chesed House is a safety net … when life collapses. We are not just a hotel. We are a program that’s faith based.”
The program gives Christian direction for life while helping new mothers get back on their feet. She said it’s so wonderful to see how God provides for the ladies and their babies through the local community.
The Women’s Club provides a light in the community that shines into the small crevices, many fail to notice. The ongoing effort of local women to improve the lives around the city, country and the world begins with tireless efforts of making small changes, one life at a time. The club invites the community to help in this mission by supporting upcoming events:
—Theatre production: Drinking Habits; Sept. 19 and 20 at 5:30 and 8 p.m., with a matinee on Sept. 21. Tickets are $35 for one of the dinner shows and $15 for the popcorn matinee.
—Fall Market Rummage Sale, Nov. 21 and 22.
—30-day lottery fundraiser with 30 days to win a variety of prizes for just $10.
Follow Women’s Club of Starke for more on these and upcoming events.
