By Katrina Grant
The Tabernacle Women’s Association is a charitable organization made up of a group of women who have come together to help women and families in the community. The organization has been around since the 1970s.
“When we first started, we had a lot of members,” Fran Magdziak, publicity chairperson for the Tabernacle Woman’s Association said. “There were a lot of young families and a lot of interest.”
Throughout the years, the organization takes part in and conducts many fund raisers for the community.
“We have ongoing activities that we sponsor throughout the year,” Magdziak said. “Like each year we do the Helping Hands Christmas Tree at Beneficial Bank.”
The organization also works with school liaisons to determine what is needed.
“Our social services chairperson keeps in touch with the schools to find out what is needed,” Magdziak said. “It’s all confidential. The Girl Scouts make ornaments for the giving tree that say what is needed, and then the donations are brought to the schools.”
The Tabernacle Women’s Association also chaperones dances throughout the year for fifth and sixth graders in the area.
“The dances are our primary fund raisers,” Magdziak said. “We have them on Friday nights at Olson Middle School for two hours. We hire a DJ for the kids. It gives parents an opportunity to have a break.”
“We also participate in the Adopt-a-Road Program in the fall and spring,” Magdziak said. “We have Prickets Mill Road and Patty Bowker Road that we help clean up and maintain.”
The organization also provides scholarships to graduating Tabernacle seniors.
“The students have to live in Tabernacle, but they don’t have to go to one of the schools in the district, they just have to live here,” Magdziak said. “We give two to three scholarships a year.”
Membership has gone down over the years as families have grown older and some have moved away. The organization is looking for new members to join.
“It’s an opportunity to get out and talk to other women and see what’s really going on in the community,” Magdziak said. “We have monthly meetings and there are very few requirements to become a member. You have to be 18 and a female.”
“Several years ago, I was new to the Tabernacle area having previously resided in Pennsylvania,” Brenda Locke, Tabernacle Woman’s Association vice president said. “I decided to join the TWA and what I found was a diverse group of women with a common thread. They care deeply about the community and are dedicated to the meaningful work of helping our residents who may find themselves and their families in a time of need. Throughout the years, I have developed wonderful friendships and have had a great deal of fun along the way. Today, I am the Vice President of the TWA and look forward to promoting the group’s visibility and growing with the organization. Our new member meeting is coming up and we would encourage anyone who is interested to please come and visit with us. We love to see new faces.”
Magdziak said that even though the organization is a charity, it also has a social component to it.
“It is a charitable organization, but it has a social aspect too,” Magdziak said. “It is a support group and as far as I know the only women’s group in the area. In fact, I met my best friend through the organization. We have very few demands on our members, whatever time is available helps.”
The Tabernacle Women’s Association’s annual membership drive meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct.12 at the Tabernacle Town Hall at 7:15 p.m. For more information about the organization visit tabernaclewomansassociation.wordpress.com.
