Scholarships - Each year our organization awards scholarships to Kirksville High School senior girls. Applications are submitted in the spring. Two or three recipients are chosen and the scholarship notifications are made at the school's spring awards assembly. Every September members of our chapter sell Innisbrook wrapping paper, bows, tags, and gifts to raise money for these scholarships.
Mother's Day/Father's Day Essays - Each spring the Kirksville Women of Today sponsors an essay contest for local third grade students. As a part of their school work, the students write an essay about their mother. The essays are judged by local Women of Today members and the mother of the overall winner is notified. On the Friday before Mothers Day she meets a Women of Today member at the school and surprises the child with the award. The mother is presented with flowers and a framed copy of the essay and the student is given prizes donated by local merchants. A similar contest is held for Fathers Day.
Founder's Day -
Friendship Day - The first Sunday in August is Friendship Day and is held in order to recognize the importance of the fellowship we have within our chapters. The sole purpose is to get to know your fellow members a little better and to take the time to have some fun with them.
Relay for Life - The Relay For Life is a major fund raising event of the American Cancer Society. It also creates awareness of the plight of cancer patients and efforts being made to find a cure for the disease. The Relay involves teams keeping at least one member on a track for 12 hours. During the Relay, a community atmosphere prevails as team members set up their campsites and enjoy entertainment with food, music and games. Each camp usually has food or craft items for sale and the proceeds from them is added to the total funds from the event. Each team is encouraged to have activities to raise money before the Relay For Life event as well as the night of the event. A luminary service is usually held sometime during the night where cancer survivors and those who have lost their lives to cancer are honored. The ceremony includes a reading of the loved ones who are listed on the luminary bag. The overnight event is symbolic of the events in a cancer patients life. The dusk symbolizes the time of diagnosis and the darkness parallels the physical and emotional exhaustion during treatment. But with the light of day comes hope of successful treatment and return to health.
Sundaes on Sunday - As one of its civic projects, the Kirksville Women of Today schedules activities with a local home for adults with mental and physical disabilities. On a Sunday in August, chapter members take ice cream, sundae toppings, and other treats to the home and make Sundaes on Sunday with the residents. They love the ice cream and the company.
Women of Today Week Baby -
Outstanding Woman Leader - Each year, the Kirksville Women of Today honor a woman from our community as an Outstanding Women Leader. This is done by sending out letters and nomination forms to all service organization in our community. All of the nomination received by the deadline, set by the chair each year, are sent to judges outside of the Kirksville community to be reviewed and one selected as our Outstanding Women Leader. A time is then set with the organization that nominated her to present her with the award. A picture and short article is sent to the local newspaper. Our local winner is also entered into the statewide Outstanding Women Leader competition sponsored by the Missouri Women of Today with recognition at our May state meeting.
Craft Shows -
Adopt-A-Child -
Christmas Shopping - As one of its civic projects, the Kirksville Women of Today schedules activities with a local home for adults with mental and physical disabilities. In early December residents draw names among themselves and chapter members take them shopping. After shopping we return to their home and help them wrap their purchases and enjoy a gift basket of goodies.
Garage Sale - Members collect and price items for a garage sale that is held at a member's home. The club receives a portion of the proceeds and members receive the rest. This helps fund sending our members to state meetings.