The Upper Allen Woman’s Club was organized and federated on January 18, 1971 by a group of dedicated women from the community as a Junior Club. It is now a General Federated Women’s Club with membership that is open to any woman over 18 years of age. GFWC Upper Allen has supported community services such as West Shore Ambulance Association (formerly Upper Allen), Upper Allen Fire and Police Departments, Mechanicsburg Public Library, Mechanicsburg Area High School, Neighbors Against Gnats, Women in Crisis, Woman Care Resource Center, Mechanicsburg Summer Reading Program, and local sports programs. Fund raising activities for these projects have included the sale of cookbooks, baked goods, and wrapping paper, the Harvest Brunch and Fashion Show, Craft Fair and golf outings. Since the organization of the club, GFWC Upper Allen has won State, District and County awards for the club’s Yearbook, Log Book, fund raising projects and membership. In addition, first place awards were won in 1973 in both GFWC and GFWC - PA for the Kidney Project which raised almost $4,000.00
Our CIP committee’s successful Visits with the Easter Bunny raised funds that enabled our club to contribute toward a tot lot, drinking fountains and the telephone at Upper Allen Community Park, and new playground equipment at our community area schools. We were also proud to contribute rescue coats and large amounts of money to support the Upper Allen Ambulance Association. A third edition of cookbook sales contributed toward the Capital Campaign of the Mechanicsburg Public Library’s new building donating over $2,750.00. A puppet program Help (Helpful Education by local police) was purchased for the Upper Allen Police Department and yearly cookies are supplied for the community’s Halloween Party for Upper Allen children. Through the profits of the Annual Craft Fair held for the past several years - a granite sign was purchased for Mechanicsburg Area High School. This granite sign was a joint project with the Student Council purchasing the sign’s base. Numerous fund raisers help provide the funds which club has donated to Operation Smile with matching funds from Rite Aid, GFWC Upper Allen was able to sponsor a surgery at the cost of $2,000.00. Annually, a Tupperware Sale’s proceeds are contributed to Operation Smile’s missions such as the GFWC Philippines Mission 1998. In 1997 and 1998 a Golf Outing was held at a local golf course - proceeds in the excess of $1,500.00 benefited the Resource Center of Woman Care located at Seidle Hospital, Pinnacle Health System. Through the efforts of our Home Life committee, we are able to give personal and material support to needy families in the community. Our Sunshine committee is designed to give club members, their families and neighbors help during difficult times. We continue our support of the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day, New Hope Ministries and The Methodist Children’s Home and Family Services
The Education committee continues to raise funds to support monetary awards given to eleven seniors at Mechanicsburg Area High School. An eighth grade female student from Mechanicsburg Area Intermediate School is selected by the MAIS teachers and guidance department each quarter for the first three quarters and recognized for her academic achievement, improvement, and participation in extra-curricular activities. GFWC Upper Allen has been responsible for activities at GFWC Pennsylvania State Conventions. Club members have been hostesses for County meetings, door keepers, served on Property and Supply committee and hosted the President’s Project Banquet in 1990 as well as 1998 at the Penn Harris Hotel and the Hershey Convention Center. Club members yearly attend a summer leadership conference at Penn State. Over the past several administrations, fund raising efforts have supported the purchase and installation of the castle playground equipment at Friendship Park in Upper Allen Township. The sale of personalized bricks for families, businesses and organizations line a walkway in the park and are still available to anyone in the community. A foundation within club has been established to continue community improvement project efforts. Future projects include continued support of the Joseph T. Simpson Public Library, Mechanicsburg Area Schools and community improvement projects. Current fundraisers such as the Annual Fashion Show and Cookies with Mrs. Claus contribute to profitable fundraising sponsored by our club.
