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Community Corner

Sussex Women Unite For Change

A pack of strong women in Sussex are lending a helping-hand, one project at a time, in an effort to address the needs of the local community.

With a common goal in mind, the Volunteer Organization of Women in Sussex (VOWS) is making the community better through big acts of service and volunteer.

Each woman vows their commitment to a unified goal to make the community greater. With each act accomplished, the women fulfill their mission.

Though the history of VOWS is short, the impact they have created in the community is noticeable. Now ten years old, the collaboration has led them to many community-orientated projects and they say they are ready for more.

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Amy Seay, president of VOWS, said the organization has filled her expectations and beyond since she joined when it first began in 2001, and she stays with the group because of how the union continues to serve the community.

“It’s nice to get together with similar women and do work for the community,” Seay said.

VOWS is currently looking forward to their annual Mother’s Day Gift Bag event. During this time, the women get together and search the community for motherly gifts through donations such as lotions, body sprays and candles.

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The ladies then put together over 100 gift bags and hand out the kits to local women that use services at .

“The act lets them know they are still appreciated during these hard times, and it just makes them feel special,” Seay said.

Among other things, the small group of women responds to many other needs in the community and host several social events through out the year.

Projects include a yearly scholarship awarded to a deserving senior at , Adopt-A-Road and collection of food pantry barrels, just to name a few.

Becky Zunke, a member of VOWS, said she loves just giving back to the community where she lives and the acts show kids and younger generations volunteering is important.

“It is just a part of giving back, and a lot of us have kids, so we want to show them how to get involved in the community,” Zunke said.

Zunke also noticed she's definitely seen a greater need for help due to the hindering economy.

VOWS is proud of their new project that helps families in need by purchasing spirit wear for kids to represent their schools during spirit days. Schools in the area have told VOWS the kids’ faces “light up” when they receive a t-shirt or sweatshirt with their school’s name and mascot on it.

Seay said a big reason she joined the group was that she was looking for opportunities to help while making strong friendships and bonds with other women in the community.

“One big reason that we continue to get together is that we love our friendship and value our relationships with each other.”

 

The ladies meet every second Tuesday each month, except December. Meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. at Waukesha State Bank, W249 N6688 Highway 164.

For more information or to find ways to help you can visit the VOWS website.

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