Departments

Education & Libraries

The department meets monthly to discuss selected books in a “book club” format. We take part in Paramus Library events, donate books to local schools and run book collection drives for school districts in underserved communities.  Opportunities are available to read to children in area daycare programs.

Arts Performing – Music

This department offers an opportunity for those who love to dance, sing or perform in any way.  The department members not only perform for our club but also nursing homes, hospitals, and NJ Federation events. Every December we put on a holiday show. Rehearsals occur weekly up until the performance. Every spring we compete at the Palisades District Performing Arts Day.  The district winner performs in Atlantic City at the NJSFWC Annual Convention in May.  Meetings are held prior to each season to discuss ideas for the upcoming show. Dance instruction as well as accompaniment is provided by members as are costumes, music and stage decor.

Health & Wellness

The Health and Wellness Community Service Program supports the wellbeing of our members as well as their families and the community by providing opportunities and resources to meet and address needs through volunteering. Through this program, we develop and implement creative projects that promote a healthy lifestyle; increase awareness, prevention, research, and treatment of disease; and target personal development. Members participate in group walks providing exercise, socialization, and mental health. Fundraisers and projects are created through-out the year to enhance knowledge on disease prevention, healthy hearts and Alzheimer’s to names a few and nutritional education by understanding what our bodies need.

Arts & Culture

Craft sessions are held monthly at our clubhouse. Club members are encouraged to socialize while we create both take-home arts and craft projects and items that become part of our community outreach donations. Past projects include painted Kindness Rocks, Thanksgiving trays to accompany holiday meal donations, Door Wreaths for local nursing home residents, and hand-crafted greeting cards for residents of the NJ Veterans Home.  We memorialize the history of the club by scrapbooking. All materials and instruction are provided by the department. Members are encouraged to enter their creations in the Palisades District Arts Achievement Day contest held each spring. Holiday decorations for the clubhouse are also crafted by this department.  The department also arranges various cultural experiences throughout the year.  Trips have included a local art exhibit, a state park historical tour and a tour of the Fritz Behnke Historical Museum in Paramus.

Environment

This department combines a love of gardening and promotes environmental appreciation and protection. We participate in the annual Earth Day Celebration and Town Wide Clean-Up in Paramus run by the Paramus Environmental Commission. We coordinate member events and trips that support our goal to strengthen our community and educate members about the environment. The Meadowlands ECO Cruise, garden and nature preserve educational trips and Plant Swaps are just a few of the programs we sponsor. We decorate the interior and exterior of our clubhouse seasonally.

Civic Engagement & Outreach

The department coordinates donations of food to pantries in the area.  We facilitate a club-wide donation of new winter items for adults and children in low income areas each winter.  Every fall we participate in the NJSFWC Operation Holiday Stocking.  In the past we have volunteered with North Jersey Friendship House, Habitat for Humanity- ReStore, St. Peter’s Haven food pantry in Clifton and Oasis in Paterson.  Our goal is to engage our members by combining both in-person volunteer opportunities as well as in-kind donations.