Soroptimist International of Great Bend held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 11. The purpose of this meeting was to present small financial gifts to two local charities that support women while learning more about their current programming and services.
 Michell Conner, executive director, joined the club from the Daniel R. Trickey Memorial Life Giving Center of Great Bend. The Life Giving Center is a part of the Loving Ministries Center of Great Bend and acts as a transitional living facility for women and children. Conner shared with the group that currently they are housing six women and 11 children at the facility. The facility takes a holistic approach to helping women in difficulty who want to make change in their lives. The Soroptimist chapter donated $1,000 to the Life Giving Center to support their continued efforts to help women make positive and empowering changes in their lives.
 Laura Patzner, executive director of the Family Crisis Center of Great Bend, also joined us for lunch to talk about the agency’s work with victims of domestic or sexual violence.  The FCC was selected by the Soroptimist to receive support from the Soroptimist group due to their long-time commitment to working with women in times of crisis. They provide counseling services, shelter services, medical, legal, and law enforcement advocacy for victims of abuse. They currently serve 10 counties. She shared that in 2010 the FCC served approximately 1,061 victims in their 10-county service area, with about 78 percent being from Barton County. Our Soroptimist chapter also donated $1,000 to the FCC at this meeting .
 Chapter president Jennie Gordy presented the checks. “We hope that it helps all the things you are trying to do,” she said. All Soroptimist members were very impressed with the services offered and excited about supporting the cause. Funds given to the FCC and the LGC were raised during the Soroptimist’s annual soup supper, held during the fall.