Current Projects

Branchburg Woman’s Club

A fun way to help the community since 1960.

Current and Recent Projects

BWC Booth at the Branchburg Country Fair

At the Branchburg Country Fair held in September at White Oak Park, fairgoers have the opportunity to meet some members of the Branchburg Woman’s Club and learn about membership, fun club activities, and projects. 2012’s fair was a big success. The rain date was Sunday. To read about the country fair, visit http://www.branchburgcountryfair.com/

Shop Online While Helping BWC’s Philanthropic Fund

Starting in 1988, the Branchburg Woman’s Club has held a craft event to raise money for the club’s philanthropic fund.

The Branchburg Woman's Club’s Craft Fair will probably be held on a Saturday, in mid-October from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the gymnasium of Central Middle School, 220 Baird Road, Branchburg (08876). Besides the club's popular bake sale, lunch and refreshments were available for purchase. Plus– there were door prizes, free admission, and parking. Starting in June, crafter contracts will be available from Karen at (908) 231-1236. The craft table fee will be announced soon. Many categories, such as jewelry, fill up quickly.

*Google Map: http://tinyurl.com/CentralMidSchoolNJ

(*This map is informational only. No representation is made or warranty given as to its content. User assumes all risk of use. Google and the Branchburg Woman’s Club assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use.)

Thank you for your continued support.

BWC’s Annual Craft Fund-raiser Event

Without extra cost, you can turn your online purchases into generous acts that help the Branchburg Woman’s Club’s Philanthropic Fund by registering and shopping online via www.iGive.com/BWCPF anytime.

Over 700 online merchants are in the Mall at iGive.com, like Macy’s, FTD.com, Sears, Barnes & Noble, Eddie Bauer, Zales, Cabela’s, HSN.com, QVC.com, Lands' End, JC Penney, eBay, REI, Target, PETsMART, Expedia, Harry and David, and many others.

By shopping via http://www.iGive.com/BWCPF, a donation equaling up to 26% of each qualifying purchase will be donated to the Branchburg Woman’s Club’s Charitable Donations and Student Awards Fund. Plus, your free personalized and private iGive page has useful links and helpful stats of your donations along with confirmation numbers. For details, see www.iGive.com/BWCPF/ (Click on the animated “Help Your Community” button on the lower left side of this page to go quickly to the club’s iGive page.)

Participation as a BWC iGive.com supporter is free. The BWC and the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs are 501(c)(3) organizations in accordance with the IRS Code.

Recognizing the importance of education and philanthropy, the Branchburg Woman’s Club bestows awards on local students and supports a variety of community service programs and charitable projects.

BWC’s Philanthropic Fund

Supporting the efforts of Family Promise and its affiliates is the current State Project of the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs’ Special State Project for 2012-2014. A member of the NJSFWC, the Branchburg Woman's Club will be looking for ways to help this cause. Family Promise, a non-profit organization, works to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence. One of its affiliates is the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset County (IHN-SC), who has been a recipient of the Branchburg Woman’s Club’s charitable donations for many years. The BWC is also working with the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset County to aid and promote their efforts to help people who cannot afford shelter and basic needs. Homeless families with children are the main focus of the agency. Starting in December 2012, the Branchburg Woman's Club has been inviting club meeting attendees to bring a new housekeeping item or personal care item to donate to Family Promise/IHN-SC as well as an item to donate to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. Contact the BWC to ask how you can help.

The NJSFWC State Project

Annual Food Drive for Local Food Bank Mid-September

The club’s food drive project has been held each fall since 1999. The project benefits the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. Non-perishable food donations are collected by the club at Branchburg’s Country Fair under the big tent until 4:30 p.m.

“Step Away from Abuse” GFWC Sock Project

The Branchburg Woman's Club is collecting new socks that will be given to New Jersey domestic violence shelters to help provide comfort and warmth to adults and children that have been victims of domestic violence. First introduced by the GFWC, this on-going effort is part of the "Step Away from Abuse" GFWC Sock Project. All sizes of new socks are welcome; the collection bin is located in the Township's main building, which is open from 8:30 am— 4:30 pm weekdays.

Help the BWC Knit for the Warm Up America! Foundation

Knitting for a Purpose, a group within the Branchburg Woman's Club, is making afghans to donate to the Warm Up America! Foundation, a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization. On behalf of the club, this charity will give the afghans to people who are in need of warmth and comfort due to natural disasters or personal calamities. Beneficiaries may have lost their homes, escaped abusive situations, or are being cared for in hospitals, nursing homes, or by Hospice. Since 1991, the Warm Up America! Foundation has helped tens of thousands of people thanks to the generous donations of knitters across the country.

Inspired to help this cause, Branchburg Woman’s Club members have found yet another way to make a difference. Once a month during the school year, interested Branchburg Woman’s Club members and friends have been meeting to knit or crochet 7 inch x 9 inch rectangles, which are later combined into colorful afghans. As of this spring, they have completed over 50 afghans, which have been shipped to the Foundation. Some have been given to the local hospice.

The Branchburg Woman’s Club invites the community to donate 7” x 9” knitted or crocheted rectangles to the club’s on-going project. For this purpose, a wicker collection bin has been placed inside the Township of Branchburg’s main building. Donations of yarn, knitting needles, or crochet hooks also are welcome. The club thanks the public for their continued support and help.

Like Warm Up America! Foundation, the BWC is a nonprofit organization and has a mission to help people. For more information about the Warm Up America! Foundation, visit its Website at http://WarmUpAmerica.org/. For questions about the BWC's Knitting for a Purpose group, please email the club.

Text Box: An ongoing project, the public is welcome to contribute 7 inch x 9 inch knitted or crocheted rectangles to the project. Finished rectangles may be left in the wicker collection bin located inside the Township of Branchburg's main building, 1077 US Highway 202, Branchburg, NJ 08876. The club thanks its members and the public for help with this worthwhile project. For information, call (908) 369-7230.

Text Box: Some members of the Branchburg Woman's Club's Knitting for a Purpose Group pose with their first completed afghan created in 2009. Photo by Jean McCann.

As a community service, the Branchburg Woman’s Club (BWC) designed and commissioned refrigerator magnets to be given to Branchburg residents free of charge at community events. Printed in the colors of the United States’ flag, these custom imprinted magnets list important telephone numbers and local information that community members might appreciate having quick access to in various situations and find useful for many years. They also list a telephone number for club membership inquiries.

One of many club awards won in recent years, this project won a certificate of merit from the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Club’s Fourth District* as “Best All Around Work in the District Reported in the Community Improvement Program”. (*As a result of a district redistribution, the club is now part of the College District.)

Branchburg “Who to Contact” Refrigerator Magnet

The second weekend of October, the woman's club hosts a part of Somerset County's Weekend Journey through the Past at the Little Red Schoolhouse, located at 2120 South Branch Road, near Studdiford Drive. The schoolhouse is the primary meeting place of the club and officially named the South Branch School. It is one of the thirteen historic sites on the weekend's free central county tour. Photos from the schoolhouse's past and other memorabilia typically are on display from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and from noon – 5 p.m. Sunday. While supplies last, color photo note cards of the schoolhouse with its belfry will be on sale for $5 per set as a BWC philanthropic community fund-raiser. The 2-day event is sponsored by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and several local organizations. Additional information about the historical sites and a related contest may be found at http://www.schistoryweekend.com/.

Journey Through the Schoolhouse’s Past Weekend