Hopatcong Women's Club host two speakers at recent meetings

HOPATCONG — Robin Gilman, Program Director of Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey, spoke at the Hopatcong Women’s Club October meeting. Her organization's mission is to to enhance medical care for those living with cancer and to help them take control of their lives. According to Gilman, it's a place where people share and learn how to help themselves by helping others. The program is a compliment to medical care, providing networking and support groups, workshops, lectures and social activities. For more information visit www.gildasclubnnj.org. Lori Space, a third generation proprietor of Space Farms on 218 Route 519 in Sussex, spoke to the Women’s Club at its November meeting. The history of the zoo and museum, dating back to 1928, was discussed as well as Lori’s daily activities on Space Farm’s 100 acres of land. Starting as a country store and pawn shop in the early years, the farm also contains includes over 100 antique cars, motorcycles, wagons and firearms. Open to visitors, there are over 500 animals to discover. Space Farms has the largest private collection of North American animals in their natural surroundings in the United States. For more information visit www.spacefarms.com. Hopatcong Women’s Club activities The National Day of Service on Oct. 22 was a success. Collection of items for Veterans Homes of New Jersey was part of a statewide project of the New Jersey State Federation of Woman's Clubs. Pat Andersen, Highlands District Chairperson for this event, reports that the Hopatcong Women’s Club donated 113 volunteer hours and $1,631 in goods to the cause. Club volunteers of Hopatcong and Sussex women’s clubs, along with willing husbands, ultimately transported the goods to the Menlo Park Veterans Home, who were overwhelmed by the regional clubs’ efforts and donations. The Hopatcong Women’s Club is actively participating in a pillowcase project for local community hospital childrens’ benefit. ConKerr Cancer started when Cindy Kerr’s son was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and she began making pillowcases to brighten up his hospital room. Since then the pillowcase project, A Case for Smiles, has grown. The Hopatcong Women’s Club is a proud participant of the project. For information on how to help with purchasing, cutting or sewing of pillowcases, contact Monica Cavano at 973-601-3521 or visit www.conkerrcancer.org. Food Banks are in continuous need of non-perishable food items and the women’s club has four Hopatcong locations at which donations are currently being accepted: The Hopatcong Post Office, Borough Hall, Skylands Medical Group and Sovereign Bank (no glass please). The Hopatcong Women’s Club next meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Hopatcong Civic Center. For more information contact Membership Chairperson Selma Reichert at 973-770-4989. To learn more about the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs, visit www.njsfwc.org.