Plains Woman's Club exceeds expectations

PLAINS – Breakfast and rummage typically wouldn’t mix well, but the Plains Woman’s Club did just that at their annual fundraiser and it was a success.

The woman’s club held their annual breakfast and rummage sale at the VFW on Saturday, April 12 yielding the best results in their history.

This year the club offered gluten free pancakes, organic eggs and ham for breakfast.

According to organizer Pat Farmer, it couldn’t have gone better.

“The breakfast was marvelous. We served about 50 breakfast plates,” Farmer said.

This year the numbers were up from last year. Farmer said the gluten free pancakes were a draw for some people who could not enjoy a typical breakfast.

Once the breakfast concluded, the rummage sale kicked off in full swing.

Support was overwhelming as waves of people entered looking for a personal treasure to take home.

The VFW Hall was lined with tables full of items for sale – all of which were donated either by the woman’s club or by the community.

At noon, 65 percent of the items were already sold and there was another two hours of the event left. The tables remained full as more items were unboxed and displayed.

Farmer said the hope was to match last year’s profit, which was approximately $800. The woman’s club was able to do that and more

Debbie Heckman confirmed that the woman’s club made closer to $1,000 this year.

“It couldn’t be done without the help of the ladies in the woman’s club. The women volunteer what they can and anything they volunteer is a blessing,” Farmer said.

Anything left will go to a garage sale during the Sanders County Yard-Saleing event.

Heckman was also pleased with the outcome.

“It was great. We had more people at the breakfast, which was quite nice. I know it’s a lot of work,” Heckman said.

Heckman said the funds earned would go towards bringing the Missoula’s Childrens Theater to town as well as Shakespeare in the Park. The woman’s club also hands out a $500 scholarship to a high school student each year and donates $200 for Books for Babies, a program partnered with Clark Fork Valley Hospital that provides new parents with a book for their newborn.

This event was one of three major fundraisers that the Plains Woman’s Club holds. Along with this event, the ladies cook dinner for the National Turkey Federation dinner, which typically yields around $800. The ladies also participate in the Sanders County Fair and this year they will run a concession booth that sells corn dogs and French fries.

The next project for the Plains Woman’s Club will be May Day baskets. The baskets typically consist of flowers, but this year the ladies are going to switch to baked goods.

The baskets are given to the elderly, who not only receive something for their sweet tooth, but also are given the chance for some socializing.

“It’s a May Day basket with a quick visit from a member,” Heckman said.

The woman’s club will be making the baskets on Thursday, May 1.