Marco Island Woman’s Club

Love was in the air at Naples Lakes Country Club as the Marco Island Woman’s Club (MIWC) celebrated the month of February. “Little houses of love” centerpieces created by Maria LaGrasso and Liz VanderAarde set the table for a succulent mouth-watering lunch for 102 MIWC members and guests. MIWC President Sue Purvis welcomed the crowd as Shirley Thayer led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and musical rendition of God Bless America.

MIWC member Leesa Carls delivered a heartfelt invocation, inspiring us to embrace the promise of hesed. The Hebrew word is defined as steadfast perfect love built on God’s covenant with humanity. Leesa reminded us, “We were created by love and for love.” Hesed is our sustenance; it is our daily bread.

We were blessed with an eye-opening, heart-rending presentation by Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, EdD., Executive Director of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry. Did you know that 48% of Collier County children qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school and that 16% of children in Collier County live in poverty? In 2023, 33% of Collier County households were designated as ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed). In other words, they are working, but their income is not enough to support all their needs, leaving them in a situation of “food insecurity.” That’s where Our Daily Bread Food Pantry steps in to nourish our community one bag at a time, distributing two million pounds of food annually to those in need. Our Daily Bread is a powerful force driven by more than 250 dedicated volunteers, thriving with the generosity of this community. Ninety-four percent of every dollar raised to support the pantry goes directly to feeding hungry children, families, and seniors. Our Daily Bread’s community programs include their signature weekly Saturday distributions at their new home at 1818 San Marco Road, Marco Island, several mobile pantries at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Marco Island, St. Finbarr Catholic Church in Southeast Naples, Lely High School, and the Rt. 41 corridor near 6L Farms, along with appointments and deliveries, weekly school programs, and monthly senior programs (Lunch With Friends). To learn more, please visit https://ourdailybreadfoodpantry.org.

MIWC proudly supports Our Daily Bread Food Pantry. Luncheon attendees brought an abundance of food items for donation. The club presented Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan with a check to support the cause. We thank her for her enlightening presentation. You will be seeing much more of this amazing community leader! Evelyn has brought an abundance of experience to her role. A former leader of several respected organizations, including the Thyroid, Head, and Neck Cancer Foundation (THANC), Children’s Museum of the Arts, the Museum of the City of New York, and Lee Health’s Community Relations team, she currently serves as the Secretary and 2026 President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Marco Island, Sunrise.

The Marco Island Woman’s Club believes in nourishing the mind as well as the body. Our Charitable Foundation recently donated $250 to Tommie Barfield Elementary School for the purchase of books for grades three, four, and five. This donation will support the TBE literacy program.

In other MIWC news, the annual MIWC Fashion Show fundraiser is coming up soon on February 23. “An Affair to Remember” promises to be a blockbuster hit that will raise funds to support our community and provide scholarships to students living on Marco Island.

March 12 will be a time of fun and games as we get ready to shuffle the deck and roll the dice at our annual Cards and Games Luncheon at CJ’s on the Bay in the Esplanade.

New members are always our greatest asset, keeping our club alive and energized. We proudly welcomed Valerie Dunn, Debra Gautier, and Nancy Vernon at our February meeting. Membership is available to all women who live on Marco Island, full-time or seasonal, whether you own or rent. Our special interest groups include book clubs, a stitchers group, cards and games, a theater group, and even a travel club. Please join us for fun, friendship, and community spirit! To learn more, please visit www.marcowomansclub.com.