By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
The most recent Otsego City Commission meeting featured a visit by a special guest.
Holly McCaw, representing the organization Women Who Care of Allegan County (WWCAC), gave a presentation outlining the group’s impact both locally and throughout the county.
McCaw attended the meeting at the invitation of City Manager Aaron Mitchell.
“Aaron said (the City Commission is) looking to have a presentation on a local organization at each meeting, so he asked if I’d share information on Women Who Care,” McCaw said. “Most of (the council members) had not heard of the organization before, so it was great to have the opportunity to share what we’re about.”
McCaw shared that, since its inception in 2014, WWCAC has awarded 43 donations to 29 different organizations serving Allegan County, totaling $231,600.
“Our mission is simply to support the people and communities in Allegan County through donations to nonprofit organizations,” McCaw said.
Recipients must be a 501c3 and serve Allegan County residents.
WWCAC meets four times a year, with each member donating $100 at each meeting. There are currently 72 members, with a goal of 100.
“The donation recipients are nominated and chosen by our members,” McCaw said. “At the start of each meeting, people can put their name and the nonprofit they’d like to nominate in a hat. We choose three and those people get a chance to share information about that nonprofit to the entire group.
“They have five minutes to present, then members have five minutes to ask questions. After all three presentations, members vote and the nonprofit with the most votes wins. Each member writes their check directly to that organization and we, as Women Who Care founders, coordinate the delivery of those checks.”
McCaw—the director of communications for Otsego Public Schools—is a charter member of the organization, which formed at the suggestion of then-OPS superintendent Denny Patzer.
“Denny saw an article on the Kalamazoo Chapter and approached a few of us here at OPS along with his wife and thought we could start a chapter for Allegan County,” McCaw said.
In addition to McCaw, charter members included Becky Patzer, Melissa Koenig, Michelle Triemstra, Heather Kortlandt, Heather Buskard and Rosemary Zink.
“We worked to gather names of people involved in the Plainwell, Otsego, Martin and Allegan communities and sent out invitations to get us started,” McCaw said. “We had a fantastic first meeting with more than 40 people in attendance.”
WWCAC meetings are held at Four Roses in Plainwell, with social time beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting itself starting at 6 p.m. Each meeting starts with a presentation from the previous quarter’s recipient so they can report back to the group on how our donation was used.
“It’s truly rewarding to be a part of this group and see how much we are making a difference in our own community,” McCaw said.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 12. Meetings are also scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 11; Tuesday, Feb. 10; and Tuesday, May 12.
“We would love to continue to grow our membership,” McCaw said.
People can find out more on the WWCAC website at https://womenwhocareofallegancounty.weebly.com/ and follow the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WomenWhoCareOfAlleganCounty/.
“We ask for at least a one year commitment once you sign the membership form and then members just continue to stay on,” McCaw said.
Organizations helped by WWCAC are: Hands 2 Hands (now Good Hands Plainwell); Wings Home Hospice; Royal Family Kids Camp; Sylvia’s Place; Allegan County Legal Assistance Center; Congregational Kitchen; Bridges of Hope; Hungry for Christ; Safe Harbor of Allegan; Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project; Otsego Public Schools Foundation—Bulldogs Bookin’ Bus; St. Vincent de Paul; Talons Out Honor Flight; Plainwell Arts Council; Rylee Lou Charity; The Arc of Allegan; Christian Neighbors; TeenServe; Allegan Homeless Solutions; Beyond Bones through the Arc; Sleep in Heavenly Peace; Braden’s Closet; Grant Burd Fund; Fell in Love Far; Renewed Hope Health Clinic; Give Hope RV; Martin Resource Center; and CCC The Branches.
“What’s amazing about Women Who Care is that we can provide an impactful, sometimes life-changing, donation to these organizations,” McCaw said. “Instead of receiving $100 here and there, they receive approximately $7,000 all at once.
“We’ve helped with medical staffing support for some organizations, provided camps at no charge for kids, funded Honor Flights for veterans—the list is lengthy and we’re extremely proud to be a part of this organization and grateful to those who continue to be a member and make a difference.
“We have also learned a lot about the different organizations that exist to help people in Allegan County. There have been a number of presentations at our meetings of organizations I had not heard of before, so that’s been eye-opening as well.
If anyone has any questions or would like more information about WWCAC, they can email womenwhocare.allegan@gmail.com.
