Our Service to the Community
Just a Glimpse at Our Civic and Community Involvement
- Endorsement and financial support of the Three Rivers Promise.
- Sponsors college scholarships for over 100 young people to date.
- Supports the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services (DASAS) and Keystone Place through donations and the Afghan Project to date over 1000 afghans have been donated.
- Hosts the Historic Three Rivers Labor Day Bridge Walk raising money to improve the trails.
- Three Rivers Food Site with volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the months of February and August, working 9 to noon, assembling boxes of food for clients of the TRFS. The TRFS is located under the back door of Lowry’s Books downtown.
- Donates “Kind News” subscriptions over 56 classrooms in area elementary schools, teaching children respect and care for animals for more than 20 years.
- Worked with local school children to raise funds for the original Carnegie Library in the early 20th century.
- Sponsored and financially supported the Visiting Nurse Program in Three Rivers for over 50 years.
- For 60 years provided free milk to school children who could not afford it.
- Provided the leadership for the establishment of a Family Service Center in the community which evolved into the Community Mental Health Center.
Many of our members are volunteers in other places in town, Red Cross, Hospital Auxiliary, Community Players, Church, Boy Scouts, Girls Scotts, Garden Club, Southwest Michigan Black Historical Society, Recycling, World Faire, Animal Rescue Fund, St. Joseph County 4-H and many others.
Timeline of Community Service
Three Rivers Woman’s Club from 1891 to Now
1891
1891: Isabella Club Formed
Three Rivers women formed the Isabella Club founded to study history and culture in conjunction with the World’s Fair in Chicago.
1893
1893: Club Renamed
The group renamed themselves the Three Rivers Woman’s Club and broadened their purpose to include community service.
1900
1900: Raising Money for Club House
Published the Thanksgiving edition the News Reporter to raise funds for a Club House.
1901
1901-1905: Helped Fund Public Library
Helped raise funds for the City to build and operate a Public Library with grant from Andrew Carnegie; Woman’s Club member, Sue Silliman, became Librarian for 42 years.
1908
1908-09: Signed Equal Suffrage Petition
Signed Equal Suffrage petition and Petitioned for a city curfew ordinance.
1909
1909-1914: Holiday Dinners
Provided Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners at the County Home.
