The goal is to provide comfort and resources to members of the armed forces and their families in recognition of their sacrifices to protect our country.  Utilize our GFWC Resolutions to increase members’ patriotism, pride in heritage, and to become more involved in community leadership roles. Create safer communities and overall well-being of all citizens.

This Committee also takes responsibility for the Advocates for Children and GFWC Signature Project.

Our members collect paper back books, magazines and new tube socks to be given to the local Veterans Hospital.  We have had the local representatives from the Veterans Affairs office come and discuss how we can support the men and women returning from the conflicts in the Middle East.  It seems that with a downturn in the economy, the VA has also been also hit.  The wounded or ill veterans feet get cold and the tube socks are comfy and warm.  it seems the VA cannot provide enough socks on their own, so we help.  To keep the visitors, family, and veterans occupied  during waiting between procedures, the club donates magazines and paperback books. 

A local quilting guild hand makes quilts for the Quilts of Honor program, providing every injured soldier with a quilt to honor their service.  To keep those quilters stitching, we provide funds to purchase needed supplies.  We had the chairwomen of this project from the guild come and speak to our membership about this project. Everyone was taken aback by the beautiful work these women have done.

To educate the voters of Brentwood our club holds a well respected Candidates Forum for the race for City Council positions every other year.  This April 2011 will be when this event will take place.

Advocates for Children:  Children in society are protected from harmful situations, and encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles both physically and emotionally.

The Brentwood Woman’s Club financial supports two (2) campers attending the Vanderbilt Burn Center Cape Hope for children recovering from severe burns.  A place for children to feel normal and have fun.

When the Williamson County child Advocacy Center was getting started, there was a need for information brochures.  Our club provided the funding to print the brochures.

GFWC Signature Project:

We make a positive change in families and communities though a Signature Project on domestic violence awareness and to increase the positive visibility of GFWC via culturally sensitive domestic violence awareness projects.

One of our favorite projects takes place at Christmas time.  The women and children served by Bridges of Williamson County (an abuse shelter) are not able to provide the same Christmas as before.  The club sponsors one or two families and becomes Santa’s elves.  The Shelter provides information on the each family member. (moms included) We decorate a christmas tree for our November Meeting with tags stating the gift wished for, family number, boy or girl, age, etc.  Our club members take tags from the tree and purchased new items to fulfill the dreams of the families.  At our December luncheon meeting al the gifts are brought wrapped with the tag attached.  These gifts are then taken to Bridges, for Moms to pick up and put under there tree Christmas eve.  There really is a Santa Claus, Virginia.

The Purple Education and Job Training Grant was started two years ago to help women escaping from domestic violence to secure funds to help insure job skills, thus being able to support their family.  This fund is for any type of educational training needed, from GED, vocational training or college courses.  Shelters in the area can recommend candidates for this help, the executive Board will review the shelters recommendation. When a request is approved the treasurer will send funds to the program the applicant plans to attend. 

Save Our Sisters is a fund from the GFWC Music City District, which the GFWC  Brentwood Woman’s Club is a member.  This fund is for immediate needs for mothers and children in domestic violence situations.  When a women gets the courage to leave she may not been able to take everything she needs.   Generally situations are brought to the attention of the District by way of a school counselors or other organizations in contact with the person in need. Our club donates to this fund yearly.