Covid didn't stop us

Our organization was incredibly active during Covid. We knew we were needed more than ever to help our community cope with the struggles of the pandemic. What we did:

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1. Pop Up Free Clothing Event: Twice this event was held at the Olean Food Pantry. Women visiting the pantry for grocery items were invited to select free new clothing, personal care items, purses, socks, and jewellery. Each woman also received a potted pansy plant.

2. Birthday Bags:  were given to both Olean area food pantries. The bags contained cake mixes, frosting, candles, decorative paper plates and napkins.

3. Diaper Drive: Diapers and wipes were collected and donated to Operation Warm Hearts Inc. a 501C3 organization the clothes children at no cost.

4. Literacy of Love: Adopted a young Ugandan girl to help with her school tuition

5. Holiday Virtual Raffle for Breast Cancer: This event was held the last 2 years in place of our annual Breast Cancer BINGO which had to be cancelled during the pandemic. We raised $20k

6. Pleasant Valley Gift Certificate Sale: $920

7. Chemo Bags: These bags were filled with items to comfort women receiving chemo therapy.

8. Dance Recital Assistants. Our club provided chaperone assistance for a woman owned dance studio performance. We have done this 4x in the last 2 years and have earned about $2k

9. Olean Area Chamber of Commerce Tree Decorating Contest: We created a travel themed tree to represent ZONTA’s international presence. Our tree was auctioned off for $150

10. Heart of Olean Mural: Our club is proud to sponsor world renown muralist Meg Saligman. Meg was born and raised in Olean, NY and will be creating a mural on the Olean JCC campus. Our members will be able to help paint a portion of this mural!

11. Valentines: Our members sent over 200 Valentine cards to women in our area nursing homes.

12. Voter Registration: We teamed with The League of Women Voters to help register new voters at our local Farmer’s Market.

13. Healthcare Workers Recognition: To honor and thank our local hospital healthcare workers we provided lunch for over 300 nurses, ward clerks, aides, etc.

14. Educators Recognition: An ad was published in our local newspaper to honor all the areas school’s personnel that taught and kept our kids safe during the pandemic.

15. Scholarships: We will give $2500 in scholarship monies at our picnic on June 1

16. Status of Women: Safe House donations $250

17. Jones Memorial Hospital and Mildred Milliman Center: $1500 in gas cards for women fighting cancer transportation purposes.

18. Pink Pumpkin Project: Donation $2000

19. Drivers Education Fee: We paid $220 for a young woman to take her Driver’s Education course

20. YMCA Scholarship: We sponsored a $500 YMCA membership for a young woman and her family.

21. Donation to a Young mother fighting breast cancer: $2000 to help with travel and co-pays

22. Gas Cards: $4000 for transportation needs of women fighting breast cancer

23. St. Bonaventure Women’s Basketball Pink Out Game: We teamed up with Olean General Hospital and the Pink Pumpkin Project to sell raffle tickets and t-shirts. Earnings $1200

24. Z Club: Our Z Club is active and has helped with our events and causes.