Unity, friendship and charity is the motto the Daughters of Isabella live by.
The Catholic Women’s organization is there to support not just the Catholic faith but also those in the community who need it.
“For the most part, we are the women’s version of the Knights of Columbus,” Shelly Arnberger said. “We help out with donations to Catholic organizations and to support the church on its missions and activities.”
The Great Bend Circle has been around since 1947, celebrating its 75th birthday in 2022, which coincided with the 125th anniversary of the International Order, founded in 1897 in Connecticut.
The name is inspired by the faith and courage of Queen Isabella of Castile. It is open to all Catholic women over the age of 16.
Most recently, the Daughters of Isabella donated supplies to St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Ellinwood as well as Holy Family Catholic School in Great Bend where they donated about $1,000 in school supplies.
“We started doing the school supply things for those two when ‘Stuff the Bus’ got going,” Arnberger said. “This was our version of the United Way event since the schools are not part of the school district receiving those supplies.”
In addition to donating supplies to the schools, they play a part in the Grandfriend program at Holy Family by donating the stamps, crayons, and colored pencils.
While that is just the most recent cause for the Daughters of Isabella, it is far from their only cause.
Several charities are the beneficiary of the help from the Daughters of Isabella. Kans for Kids. Barton County Cancer Fund. ElderCare. Meals on Wheels and CASA. The Makinna Ann Hope Foundation, which grants disabled children equipment.
All have gotten financial support from them.
“We give a stipend to seminarians of the diocese,” Arnberger said. “We help support Birthright International.”
Birthright International is an emergency pregnancy service organization that provides practical support to women facing unexpected pregnancies. It is one of the primary national and local pro-life charitable causes supported by Catholic women’s groups across Kansas and the region.
Birthright offers free services such as pregnancy testing, maternity and baby clothing, diapers and supplies as well as referrals for medical care, housing, social services and legal assistance. There is also a 24/7 confidential helpline for support.
The Daughters of Isabella help with the Food Bank, collecting and donating items for them as well as cash contributions.
They do about three meals a year for CORE Community of Barton County, a non-profit that helps people work their way out of poverty.
“CORE will oftentimes feed 60-70 people,” Arnberger said. “A lot of times a smaller organization would have a hard time helping a larger group like that. We have the resources to do that.
“We provide about three meals a year for them.”
The Daughters also help a few elderly residents pay their electricity bills.
The main, and only, fundraiser for the organization happens in late January or early February. That is when they have the Winter Raffle.
“We have a selection of donated items worth from about $10 up to $500-600,” Arnberger said. “We usually have about 30 to 40 items for auction.”
“Members sell tickets for a big drawing at the end. It is our one-and-only fundraiser.”
The organization also receives memorial donations in honor of deceased members and loved ones.
Right now there are 138 members in Circle #744 – the Great Bend Circle.
“Most importantly, we provide spiritual support for all of our members, their families and our parish family,” Arnberger said. “We have a very strong prayer chain and we lead rosaries for our deceased members at the vigil service and before the funeral mass.
“Our state and international groups hold conventions and spiritual conferences to help us continue to grow in our faith.”
The Great Bend Circle will be hosting the Kansas State Daughters of Isabella Spiritual Conference later this year on Oct. 17.
