Women's club supports abused women's program

The Suburban Woman's Club of St. Bernard recently donated $500 to the St. Bernard Battered Women's Program.

Gail Gowland, executive director of the program, said the donation will be used to help with needs that are not covered by grants.

"A donation of $500 can really help," Gowland said. "Sometimes the women and children who come to us may need things like new eyeglasses or medicine, and that's why a donation like we received from the Suburban Woman's Club is so important to us."

The St. Bernard Battered Women's Program has a facility that houses between 40 and 50 women and children. Gowland said the program helps between 700 and 800 women annually.

The donation was presented to Gowland by Lena Nunez, president of the Suburban Woman's Club of St. Bernard, and Faith Moran, corresponding secretary, and Helen Guillard, vice president.

The Suburban Woman's Club of St. Bernard formed in 1955. It has 35 members, 20 fewer than before Hurricane Katrina.

"The club began as a way to help ladies who felt like they wanted to do something for the community," Perez said.

Each year, the Suburban Woman's Club of St. Bernard makes a donation to a group in St. Bernard Parish.

This is the second consecutive year it has made a donation to the St. Bernard Battered Women's Program. In the past the club has donated money to schools to help children who needed assistance with uniforms and school supplies.

The Suburban Woman's Club of St. Bernard meets four to five times yearly in the homes of members.

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Earl Hodges writes about clubs in St. Bernard. He can be reached at earlhodges@msn.com or 504.887.4731.

The Suburban Woman's Club of St. Bernard recently donated $500 to the St. Bernard Battered Women's Program. From left, are: Faith Moran, Suburban Woman's corresponding secretary; Helen Guillot, Suburban Woman's vice president; Gayle Gowland, Battered Women's program director; and Lena Nunez, of the Suburban Woman's president....