We are committed to addressing needs within our community. Our annual fundraiser enables us to award grants to local non-profit organizations to assist in their continuation of worthwhile programs and services. Monthly collections of goods at our meetings are distributed to Helpline House and the Bainbridge YWCA-Alive program.

Women Helping Women

While the club is primarily a social organization, we take very seriously our theme of Women Helping Women in order to discover ways of assisting women in need in our community. We regularly support our local Helpline House and the YWCA battered women's shelter with donation boxes which members contribute to at our general meetings.

Annual Fundraiser

Each year BIWC holds a fundraiser to raise money in support of our grant program. Recently, the BIWC fundraiser has been a silent auction and dinner.  Members, as well as many local merchants, donate a wonderful assortment of auctions items. Members, spouses and guests are all invited to attend this enjoyable event.

Many of our BIWC members as well as others in our community have joined together to create fleece berets for women and men who are undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Currently, the Barb's Beret Project is delivering nearly 100 berets a month to the Oncology Departments of Virginia Mason, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Harrison Hospital.

One need not be a seamstress to participate. There are a variety of tasks that everyone can do. Many members cut out the beret patterns, others sew them together and then a monthly sewing circle is held where the finishing touches are applied to the berets before they are distributed.

In July, eight BI Women’s Club members joined with Barn fiber department members and community volunteers to create the cheery pillow cases shown above.

Thanks to Chris Peterson, Roz Wilkes (not pictured), Dorothy Sugden, JoEst Buehner, Stephanie Edwards, Judy Grossman, Jennifer Slack (not pictured), Julie Williams (not pictured).