When the Prairie Godmothers held a “lingerie luncheon” Thursday at Renue Salon in Great Bend, they decked the halls with dozens of new undergarments and pajamas for women and children in Barton County.
Socks, bras and PJs hung from stair rails, above doorways and on a chandelier at the salon, located at 1419 Main. The Prairie Godmother Advisory Committee invited woman to come for lunch and to bring items that will be sorted and donated to local social service organizations.
During the social, the new nonprofit organization of “women helping women” picked up several new members, bringing its number to over 160. Melanie Calcara, one of the founding members, said that prior to the luncheon, Prairie Godmothers had raised $86,650. The goal is to raise $100,000 before the end of the year.
Prairie Godmothers is patterned after a successful organization in Manhattan known as Fairy Godmothers, Calcara said. Monetary donations to the Prairie Godmother Funds will be used to address the needs of women in the county. These are often one-time needs for things not generally covered by other agencies.
“The response has been just mind boggling,” Calcara said. “There’s obviously a need.”
The group also networks with partner agencies, which include the Barton County Emergency Aid Council, Barton County Health Department, Family Crisis Center, Heart of Kansas Family Healthcare and Lasting Life Ministries.
Some funds will be used for grants to address immediate needs, while some will help establish a permanent endowment. Members say 100 percent of every donation remains in Barton County to help women with limited resources. Anyone who makes a tax-deductible gift before the end of the year is considered a charter member.
Contributions may be mailed to: Prairie Godmother Funds; Golden Belt Community Foundation; 1307 Williams St., P.O. Box 1911; Great Bend, KS 67530. Checks should be made payable to GBCF and note “Prairie Godmothers” in the memo line.