By Alicia Johnson, GFWC &ndash; Women&rsquo;s Club of South County Member
In every community, there are people quietly working to build better futures, not because they have unlimited resources, but because they believe that a little support at the right moment can make an enormous difference.
As members of the GFWC Women&rsquo;s Club of South County, we see that every day. We have the opportunity to invest directly in women pursuing education and in local nonprofits working to address some of the most pressing needs facing our neighbors.
But there is an important part of that work we cannot do alone: we need people to know these opportunities exist.
Two of our programs have upcoming deadlines, and we want to make sure they reach the people and organizations who could benefit.
GFWC Women&rsquo;s Club of South County Scholarships
Our scholarship program provides financial support towards tuition for women in Washington County pursuing education, vocational training, certificates or degrees at accredited universities and technical schools.
Who should apply?
&bull; Women age 20 or older&bull; Washington County residents&bull; Applicants demonstrating financial need&bull; Students enrolled in or accepted into an eligible educational or career program at an accredited university or technical school.
Application deadline: October 1, 2026
These are more than scholarships. They are investments in women who are working to create a different future for themselves and their families.
Grow Hope Grants
Our Grow Hope grant program supports local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations addressing some of the most pressing needs in our community with a preference for programs that positively impact women and children such as:
&bull; Food security&bull; Housing&bull; Mental health support
In 2025, the Women&rsquo;s Club awarded $52,776 to 23 local nonprofit organizations doing this important work.
Application deadline: October 9, 2026
When we talk about philanthropy, we often focus on the act of giving. But there is another form of generosity that costs nothing: sharing information.
Maybe you know a woman who has put her education on hold because of financial circumstances. Maybe you know a nonprofit constantly looking for resources to keep an important program going.
A conversation, an email or a social media share could connect them to an opportunity they didn't know existed.
Help us get the word out. Because sometimes the difference between someone receiving the support they need and missing an opportunity is simply knowing that the door is open.
Learn more about the GFWC Women&rsquo;s Club of South County Scholarship Program and Grow Hope Grants at <a href="https://www.gfwcri.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">gfwcri.org</a>&nbsp;or email <a href="Gfwcwcsc@gmail.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">gfwcwcsc@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;

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Sometimes the Help Is Closer Than We Think

By Alicia Johnson, GFWC – Women’s Club of South County Member...

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Maury Loontjens Memorial Library

Book Launch of my new book, I Belong in the Game. - a novel for adults and young adults. Summer, 1974. In a mill town where dreams feel as worn as the red brick buildings, a nine-year-old girl refuses to stay small.
Raylee Montour lives for baseball—the crack of the bat, the dust of the infield, the promise of a game that doesn’t yet want her. Too young. Too different. And most of all, a girl. But when a landmark court ruling cracks open the doors of Little League, Raylee dares to believe she might finally claim her place on the field.
Raised by a devoted father haunted by loss, Raylee grows up straddling worlds: between childhood and fierce independence, between her Mohawk heritage and a town quick to judge, between the memory of a mother she barely knew and a future she’s determined to shape. Her closest ally is Micah, her gentle, music-gifted neighbor, whose bruised home life hides behind quiet loyalty and a miraculous ability to make a piano sing after hearing a song only once.
As Raylee battles bullies, injustice, and the limits others place on her, she discovers that courage comes in many forms—standing up for a friend, daring to love what you love without apology, and finding your voice in a world that prefers your silence. With the help of an unconventional teacher, a steadfast father, and a heart too big to back down, Raylee begins to understand that talent is only part of the fight. The rest is believing you belong.
Set against the changing social landscape of the 1970s, Raylee
is a tender, powerful coming-of-age story about friendship, resilience, found family, and the quiet, revolutionary act of letting a child become exactly who she is meant to be.Book is available at my book launch, Amazon, and my website: www.tamstales.net

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South Kingstown, RI|Local Classified|Opinion|Aug 31

Sometimes the Help Is Closer Than We Think

Book Launch