February begins the ninth year of 100 Women Who Care — Marshalltown meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 at Calvin Rockett’s upper level.

This women’s philanthropic organization started in 2012 with its first donation to the Animal Rescue League and has not stopped meeting three times a year to consider more charities and worthwhile projects needing contributions. New members are always invited to join and the organization continues to lend a monetary hand to the needs in the community.

A grand total of $351,700 in donations given to the community in the last eight years to these beneficiaries: Animal Rescue League, Mid Iowa Workshops for Assessable restrooms, Emergency Food Box, Quakerdale Wolfe Ranch, T.R.A.I.L.S., MHS Round House renovation, Iowa River Hospice, House of Compassion, EMBARC, CIAA – 3D printer and classes, Grimes Farm Playscape, Child Abuse Prevention Services Crisis Care, Marshalltown Youth Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Livestrong program at the Community Y, Reach Out and Read, Combined Honor Guard — new van, UnityPoint Health — Marshalltown Foundation — ambulance, Marshalltown Police — Ballistic Protective Equipment, The Caring Center, Long Term Family Recovery Committee — tornado relief, MHS Marching Band Uniforms, Iowa Valley Leadership Class – adaptive playground equipment at Anson Park and Marshalltown Public Library — Mamava nursing pod.

The format of each meeting is simple: when a member arrives, she may put her membership card in the drawing box, on the back of her card is the name of a charity or project she thinks the membership would choose to win its donations. Three cards are drawn from the box and each charity/project is presented by the member who’s name is on the card.

Five minutes are used to present with five minutes added for questions. The membership votes and the winning charity/project receives a $100 check from all members present. An email goes out to the non-attending members for their $100 checks and when all checks are collected, they are given to the charity/project. All donations stay local to help the community and are tax deductible as members write the checks to the winning charity/project.

It is easy to join 100 Women Who Care. Simply attend a meeting and sign a membership card. By signing it, the new member agrees to donate at the next three meetings (for a year.) The meeting dates for 2020 are Feb. 6, April 23 and Oct. 22. A prospective member may come to a meeting to see how it works before joining.

For more information, see the 100 Women Who Care — Marshalltown Facebook page or contact Janet Collison at janet.collison@gmail.com. All local women are invited.