Five years ago, the Prairie Godmothers was created as a group of local women helping women. This Saturday, the group will celebrate its five-year anniversary where it all began, at Calcara’s Red Barn, 702 NW 10 Road, Great Bend. There will be a social time at 1 p.m., with a heartwarming program and door prizes at 1 p.m., sponsors said.
The Great Bend Tribune reported on the group’s premiere event, held Oct. 20, 2013:
“There’s a new community service group in town — one that hopes to do magic. Melanie Calcara, one of the six founders of Prairie Godmothers, said this group of ‘women helping women’ hopes to provide funds for critical short-term needs not met by other community resources.
“‘Once upon a time, not so very long ago, in a faraway land called Barton County, women of all ages, backgrounds and economic standings came together to impact the lives of others,’ Calcara said, as she read aloud from a large storybook. ‘They laughed, they shared and became charter Prairie Godmothers. You are invited to help up write the ending to this fairy tale.’”
Five years later, the group has provided assistance to over 140 women. Members and those interested in becoming members are invited to attend Saturday’s event as the group plans to reach out to touch the lives of many more.
If possible, send an RSVP email to gbcf@goldenbeltcf.org.
Contributions are welcome, whether people attend or not. The Golden Belt Community Foundation (gbcf@goldenbeltcf.org) accepts donations to the Prairie Godmother Endowment. Prairie Godmothers has a $25,000 dollar-for-dollar match from the generous Nichols Charitable Foundation, Calcara noted, and donations received through the month of November are eligible to receive a share of a $10,000 proportional match from GBCF’s Giving Tuesday event. For more information call the Golden Belt Community Foundation, 620-792-3000.
Learn more about Prairie Godmothers online atwww.goldenbeltcf.org/prairie-godmothers or Facebook (The Prairie Godmother Funds of the Golden Belt Community Foundation).
Prairie Godmothers Funds of the Golden Belt Community Foundation has also been nominated to make a presentation (along with Golden Belt Humane Society and Meals on Wheels) Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the 100+ People Who Care Barton County (www.100bartoncounty.org) meeting. That will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Courtyard of the Best Western Angus Inn, 2920 10th St.
The group hopes to grow its endowment to $250,000 by the end of the year.
To make a gift go to www.goldenbeltcf.org/donation or mail a check to the Golden Belt Community Foundation, 1307 Williams, Great Bend, KS, 67530. Remember to put “Prairie Godmother Funds” in the memo line.
