The members of the Brown Deer Junior Woman’s Club traditionally end our year with a holiday banquet where we enjoy good food, socializing and an opportunity drawing.  It is a fun event that puts everyone in the holiday spirit.

In early fall 2020, due to the pandemic, it became clear that we would not be able to hold our banquet.  One member asked the group whether they would be willing to donate funds they would have spent at the banquet to a project benefiting the homeless through the group Street Angels, Inc.  Enthusiastic, positive responses were received from all and the “Street Angels Kindness Bag” project was started. Members were excited to have a way to share the warmth of the holidays with others.

Our Street Angels Kindness Bag project was a huge success thanks to our members’ generous donations! With cash donations totaling $605.62 and donations of many hats, scarves, socks, and gloves, the project had a great start! Members donated their time and talents to make additional fleece hats and scarves, some with leftovers from previous service projects, to ensure each bag got an item to keep the recipient warm during the upcoming winter months. We were able to put together 120 bags that were delivered the Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving to those in need around the greater Milwaukee area, including a stop in the Brown Deer area. 

Each Kindness Bag included a “warm” item (hat, scarf, gloves, or socks), hand warmers, hand sanitizer, tissues, several snack items (cookies, candy, granola bars, water flavoring, fruit snacks etc.) and, most importantly, a note of kindness from the Club.

The Street Angels Kindness Bag project reminded us that you can find your holiday spirit by making the world a little more wonderful for others, especially those in need.  Happy Holidays from the Brown Deer Junior Woman’s Club!