Maryann Welch said a few days ago that one of the attractions about 100+ Harbor Women Who Care is that it is “well-organized and it moves along.”

Like any well-oiled machine, 100+ Harbor Women Who Care did not disappoint on Tuesday night. Instead, it impressed. And the good hosts at Hoquiam Elks Lodge 1082 once again provided a room large enough for the hearts inside. The women who attended the event couldn’t be more grateful.

“This is my first time and I just love the energy here,” said Michelle Lukin, who was in attendance. “I love all the representation, the presentations were amazing. It’s such a hard choice. I wish they could all get (the final vote). I love the vibe. I love that it’s all women here willing to give their time and their financials to support a lot of these great causes.”

100+ Harbor Women Who Care helped raise $18,220 for its “winning” nonprofit, Camp Victory, which increases the group’s total fundraising effort since 2019 to more than $120,000. But more funds are coming for Camp Victory, which helps children who are survivors of sexual abuse. Andrea Seabert, director for the girl’s camp, shed a couple tears of gratitude when she found out her camp won. She looked so grateful for the help the fundraising gave the camp.

“It’s pretty fantastic,” Seabert said. “I am honored and humbled and thrilled beyond belief. And having grown up in this community, I have always known there were really good people. This just brings it home even more so.”

In addition to what 100+ Harbor Women Who Care did for Camp Victory, the 133-person gathering on Tuesday allowed Domestic Violence Center of Grays Harbor to present how the donations they received at the last event in March have helped them. The event also allowed leaders from Hoquiam Food Bank and 7th Street Kids to speak about their missions.

Gloria Callaghan, executive director of Domestic Violence Center of Grays Harbor, spoke a little about how the money raised for them in March has helped.

“I do want to tell you that your generosity has helped a lot of survivors,” Callaghan said. “We are grant-funded, but the grants really let us know what we can and can’t do and there are so many things that we can’t (do), so this money has just been amazing for that.”

Callaghan told a short story about a woman who got help from the center. She had been “clean and sober for six months,” she had gotten her teenage daughter back and how she had gotten her teenager a car and insurance, but she needed registration tabs.

“But it was $300 and there’s just no way,” Callaghan said. “She said she had been to so many places, but they had all turned her down because they don’t help with cars. None of our grants would have helped her get the one thing she needed … she just needed tabs on her car.”

Callaghan said the “generous money from the 100+ Harbor Women” helped get her the tabs she needed. It might be a small thing, Callaghan said, but it “meant everything for her.”

“I’m not a hugger, but she hugged me and her daughter cried,” Callaghan said.

Kelly Toomey shared statistics from the Domestic Violence center and how the organization’s helped.

“From March until today, in our shelter we sheltered 22 women and three men … and 28 children,” Toomey said. “We do shelter men. We don’t discriminate against anybody. We worked with 109 survivors in our office and out of the 109 we had 55 new clients, so 55 people who had never been there before. And we answered 121 after-hour calls. That could be 2 (a.m.) it could be on a Saturday, Sunday, whenever we’re not there. They get us, one of the advocates, not an answering machine.”

Hoquiam Food and Clothing Bank

Linda Borth, director at Hoquiam Food and Clothing Bank, explained the simple mission of the nonprofit.

“We’re all about … feeding people and getting shoes and socks on their cold feet,” Borth said. “The association was formed to gather, purchase and distribute food, that’s our mission statement. We assist other nonprofits with items that are available, and we provide information on good nutrition to persons in need.”

Borth said the food bank started in the kitchen of the Presbyterian church in the early ‘90s and then it moved to the YMCA in the old high school building. Borth said the ladies who kept the bank going in the late ‘90s are sadly all gone. But they blazed a trail.

“But they were an inspiration in showing me how to handle the work,” said Borth, who shared a story about Sally Hague, one of the women from that period. “She was handing a gentleman a brown bag full of food, and accidentally her wedding ring dropped off in the bag. She was devastated. But the next day we were open, (the gentleman) came back and returned her ring.”

According to Borth, since the COVID-19 pandemic, anyone from anywhere can access the food bank.

The services since those early days have expanded. To find out more about the nonprofit, search https://hoquiamfoodbank.weebly.com/. The hours for the bank — its address is 720 K Street — are noon to 2 p.m. on Monday and Wednesdays.

7th Street Kids

Heather Robarge, a board member for 7th Street Kids, spoke for 7th Street Kids. The nonprofit allows children to perform in plays at the historic 7th Street Theatre. It’s been going since 1992.

“Since 1992, 7th Street Kids has created an opportunity for the young people in our community — ages seven to 16 — to learn about live theater, be a part of the magic on-stage and perform for our community,” Robarge said. “In our 33 years we have put on 37 full theatrical productions, numerous mini-camps and have had over 900 participants.”

Robarge said theater benefits “numerous lifelong benefits for children.”

“(This includes) heightened communication skills, confidence, creativity, teamwork and empathy,” Robarge said. “Our mission is to foster and encourage the growth and development of children and children’s theater for our community. And (it) provides opportunity for the practice and performance of theater, dance and music theater for our children.”

Robarge said 7th Street creates a “productive and safe environment for children to explore acting, singing and dancing, (and) to share their talents and gifts on the historic 7th Street Theatre stage.”

Children undergo an audition process, have multiple rehearsals per-week and receive guidance and instruction from experience instructors. They also receive lunch while attending rehearsals.

“7th Street Kids brings the fun every summer to our audiences,” Robarge said. “It provides the opportunity for everyone to come to the show and be entertained. Often children are in the audience and they are compelled to audition for next year’s show and to be a part of the magic in our community.”

7th Street Kids also had a former 7th Street Kids’ participant story.

“It bolstered my character from youth through adulthood, touching my heart in many ways no other part of life can,” Robarge said as she read the story. “As a child, the stage was my place to be my loudest, silliest and happiest self. My grandma Diane volunteered with the adult crew. She encouraged the fun in me and rooted for the success of us all.”

To learn more about 7th Street Kids, including how to donate, search 7thstreetkids.org.

Another impressed voice

One of the main goals of 100+ Harbor Women Who Care is outreach. The group wants to share information about as many nonprofits as it can. Since there are 600 nonprofits throughout Grays Harbor, the group has a lot of work to do. But the work so far has lead to a lot of success. It’s lead to more people knowing where the needs in the community are.

“Oh my gosh, I love this event,” said Julie Randich. “First, there’s 100 women here, and to be able to walk away knowing that you gave such a small portion but it’s such a huge impact for whoever wins, it’s just rewarding. And honestly I did not realize how many nonprofits were in our community. I would have never known about Camp Victory if I didn’t come tonight. Each time I come, I hear about something new that I didn’t realize was in our community, which I think is cool.”

Like Lukin, who was planning to give more than the $100, Randich was planning on giving more. She said it feels “amazing” to be part of such a charitable group.

“I love that they’ve started this and I hope it continues in our community,” she said.

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.