As NESFC's membership continues to grow,
participants continue to extend the club's
outreach to improve the lives of local women
and girls.

Early in 2008, it was decided to launch a new
Dinner/Dance/Silent Auction benefit to assist women
through support to Hope's Boutique, a store serving
the needs of cancer patients and survivors in the
Columbus area. Members reached this decision
following a program speaker's presentation detailing
how the store has identified the needs of these women
and presents retail products including wigs,
prosthetics, and items utilized during treatment and
and post-surgery care.

Hope's Boutique makes retail items available to
women irrespective of their ability to pay during
these critical times in their lives.

With the participation of Hope's Boutique supporters
and associates, the club hosted the 1st Annual
Harvest of Hope benefit fundraiser at the Airport
Concourse Hotel, Friday, Octobeer 24, 2008.
Eighty guests and family members attended the
event, which included dinner, dance musicale
provided by a local DJ.

In the compilation of an estimated 1000-volunteer hours
 in planning, organizing, comunity contact, design and
print production of materials, publicity,decorating,
and hosting the event, members solicited silent
auction items to tickle the fancy of the most estute
auction bidders and pre-holiday-shopper enthusiasts.

With the close of the last dance and final bid, $3800.00
was raised to benefit Hope's Boutique's efforts. This
goal was achieved in large part to the generous donations
of community businesses including the Airport Concourse
Hotel, site of the event, and local guests, and Soroptimist
District IV Soroptimist members who attended Friday night
preceeding the District's Saturday meeting at the hotel.

According to Independent Sector's calculation of volunteer-
sevice-impact for the added value to the community, the
event netted $19,510. The calculation of community aware-
ness of Hope's Boutique's services and Soroptimist's outreach
is incalcuable as members, neighbors, and donors
met and reacquainted through the effort, and community
women became aware of the powerful resources of
the boutique.

Planning for the 2009 autumn Harvest of Hope benefit
has begun as members gather ideas for auction items
in their post-Christmas shopping and planning meetings
which begin the second week in January.