By Maria Ortolani
Women’s Club of Farmingdale members met at Welfare Chair Rosemary Emigholz’ home on April 20 to prepare donated handbags/diaper bags for donation to the Madonna Heights Homeless Shelter. The bags were filled with baby/toddler items, including pacifiers, sippy cups, small books, lotions, bibs, shampoo, diaper cream, etc. and with items for mothers, such as makeup, perfume, jewelry, hair ties, scarves, assorted toiletries, etc. Club members delivered the items to Madonna Heights on May 6 in time for Mother’s Day. Madonna Heights is a 24-
hour facility that offers a wide range of therapeutic services, comprehensive mental health, and independent living support including shelter to mothers-in-
crisis and their young children.
On April 18, members of the Women’s Club of Farmingdale (WCF) met to sort and fill donated shopping bags with assorted food items to be distributed to district students for the April Passover school closing as part of their continuing “Shut the Door on Hunger” Community Impact Program, which seeks to prevent food insecurity when schools are closed. This is the last collection for this school year. The WCF expects the program to begin again at the start of the new school year.
Luncheon Chair Ingrid Hernandez and her committee Margaret Barrett, Lynn Cahill, Eva Pearson and Cheryl Parisi beautifully decorated the community room at Allen Park for spring while serving a delicious lunch before the start of WCF May 10 General Meeting. The general membership voted and approved the new 2024-25 slate of officers who will be installed at the June meeting.
Superintendent of Schools Paul Defindini presented members with a very informative program on solutions to the ever-increasing high cost of college tuition. Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses can matriculate to earning enough credits to reduce tuition and even to start college at Sophomore or Junior levels at considerable tuition savings. Also starting in September, new courses are available to students as an alternative to a 4-year college degree. Some of these courses include a 2-year medical assisting certification to work in hospital settings and certificates in cosmetology, welding, mechanics, etc. enabling students to find work right after graduation.
To everyone’s delight, Supt. Defindini brought “Daler,” his yellow lab canine companion. Defindini will be “raising” Daler, who is with him 24/7, for 18 months. The GFWC NYS Convention was held in Albany May 2-5 and members were presented with certificates for award winning photographs and handmade crafts showcased at Cultural Arts in March. Also, certificates were presented to a number of members for their many years of community service.
–Maria Ortolani is the WCF Publicity Chair
