ZONTA WORKS FOR WOMEN

By JOYCELYNE FADOJUTIMI www.infinitieplusmag.com

According to

President Tammy Gibbons, Zonta Club of Longview is a service Club that works closely with Zonta International and Zonta District 10 to assist “Build a Better World for Women and Girls.” Gibbons gave the history and the mission of the Club. “The Zonta Club of Longview has been in effect for over 67 years and is dedicated to helping every woman live without fear of violence, have access to resources and decisionmaking positions and achieve her full potential,” she stated. “Women in the local area face many difficulties including domestic violence, trafficking, poverty, homelessness and the lack of education and training.”

In order to carry out their mission, the Zonta Club of Longview engages in several activities to achieve set goals. For example, the Club hosts several service opportunities and events each year including a monthly project to collect needed items to donate to community agencies. They are but not limited to:

• Birthday Boxes for the Rainbow Room supplying birthday cakes, plates, napkins, decorations, and more for children who otherwise might not have a party.

• Canned food for Longview Community Ministries.

• Christmas program at Heartisans Marketplace.

• Transportation passes, handwarmers and blankets for Newgate Mission.

• Easter Eggs for SeeSaw Children’s Place.

• Toys for "Rebecca's Closet" for Martin House Childrens' Advocacy Center.

• The Prom Boutique is held annually the fourth Saturday in February in which prom dresses, formals, shoes,

903.663.0061 jewelry, and accessories are given away.

• The annual April Blooms and Butterflies plant sale at Teague Park.

• The annual September Bunco event of the Pine Tree Independent School District.

• Solicitation of sundry sponsorships and donations.

• The Free the Girls project in which new and used bras are collected, packaged, and shipped worldwide for women to use in a business they have started to raise money for their families.

But wait, that is not all.

• In 2022 Zonta collaborated with VIEWpoint Community Center and Lifepoint Church to show the movie The Runners to the public free of charge.

• The Zonta Education Committee is working with the Women Center of East Texas to host a trafficking summit conference in Longview in October 2023.

• Zonta annually gives about six scholarships to high school girls and adult women returning to the workforce.

• An annual $500 donation to Young Women in Public Affairs.

• Two $5000 grants annually to local nonprofit community service agencies.

• All these awards, donations and grants are handed out at the yearly Women of Achievement luncheon, to be held this year on May 18 in the Tuttle Road Holiday Inn. There is more. Contd. on Page 4