North Olmsted Junior Women's Club: Women helping women

Posted January 24, 2019 in Articles

The North Olmsted Junior Women's Club has been serving the city and surrounding communities in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties for over 75 years.

The club was founded and orchestrated by Gerald Rankin in 1943, with their first meeting occurring on Aug. 8 of that year at a former golf club, Par Three Club House, according to Renee Kolesar, current president of the Junior Women's Club.

Over its course of 75 years, the non-profit club has welcomed a number of women from Lorain and Cuyahoga counties to serve their fellow communities and be involved in order for each to grow, the 69-year-old Kolesar said.

"This diverse group of women is involved in many service projects, including the (current) Tim Tebow “Night to Shine” special prom, constructing Easter baskets/holiday gifts for hundreds of senior adults and children, support for high school after prom, (North Olmsted City Schools') Education Foundation, Oxcart Food Pantry, Providence House, Twice Blessed Store, The Gathering Place and Trinity Church meals for the needy," Kolesar said.

"As strong supporters of continuing education and lifelong learning, the Junior Women also provide scholarships each year to high school students and adult women for higher education expenses."

Kolesar resides in the city and has been a member of the club for 15 years. This is her first time serving as the club's president. She said the club currently has 41 members of all ages, though they must be 21 or older to join.

Members do not have to be North Olmsted residents.

"Most women join to support the community through volunteer work, meet new people and find new friendships," Kolesar said. "I joined after my youngest child went to college since I had been very active volunteering in the school system while my children were in school."

Kolesar said her favorite thing about being part of this club for so many years is the people she's met.

She added she also loves the work they do to support charities and help people in need.

"We get so much good feedback from the groups we have supported," she said. "It’s wonderful to know we have made a positive impact in our community. We recently received a proclamation from the Ohio Senate for our community service.

"(For example,) I personally felt so good when I was able to help someone shopping at the Twice Blessed Store (of Cleveland), when I drop off Easter baskets the group had assembled at the nursing home or when I make that phone call to tell a woman she had been chosen to receive a scholarship. We aren’t a big group and we don’t raise huge amounts of money, but I know that we have added happiness to people's lives."

Kolesar said while federal, state and local governments help those in need, there have been cutbacks in many government programs.

"Charitable community groups like (North Olmsted Junior Women's Club) are a needed resource that can provide something extra for our citizens who are at a difficult point in their lives," she said.

Karen Hirsh, 52, of North Olmsted, has been a member of the club for about two years.

Hirsh said she joined after moving to the area from Hudson once her youngest child began college at Kent State University.

She said was looking for a way to meet people in an area she was unfamiliar with.

"I was not aware of organizations or volunteer opportunities in the Hudson area like this," Hirsh said. "It’s a great way to meet new people when you’re new to the area."

Hirsh said one of her favorite things about the club is the volunteer opportunities.

"Sometimes as an individual, it can be difficult to find opportunities, but we have a committee in charge of this every year who do research and find opportunities," she said. "It’s great to be with a group of people who volunteer. We do so much good in the community, from volunteering, to raising money for scholarships, to making monetary donations to other organizations. It’s a lot of work, but so worthwhile and rewarding."

Molly Cotofan, 40, of North Olmsted, has been with the club for five years.

She and husband John Cotofan had moved to the city from Fairview Park in 2014 with their two children. She said she knew close to no one after coming to the area and found an advertisement to attend a Junior Women's Club meeting.

After going to her first meeting to see what it was like, she ended up joining that night.

"It is such a welcoming group of women who give their time and energy to try to really make a difference in North Olmsted and surrounding communities," Cotofan said. "The group allows me to grow as a person through creating new friendships and giving me an outlet in which to serve our community."

Cotofan said in her five years as a member, she has many things she truly enjoys. One of her favorites is the Adult Women’s Scholarship the club offers.

The club raises money throughout the year and donates it to worthy causes, but she loves that they annually give out this scholarship.

"The scholarship goes to a non-traditional woman who is either already enrolled in a higher education program or wants to enter one," Cotofan said. "We receive great applications and it is always a joy to hand this scholarship out."

Cotofan said the group also has raised money to contribute to their local Kiwanis Club, for playground equipment for their schools, constructing Easter baskets for senior citizens who reside at the Joshua Tree and they have donated to North Olmsted’s School Garden.

"(The Junior Women's Club) gives women the support they need to make positive changes in North Olmsted and surrounding communities," Cotofan said. "We can identify issues and concerns on a smaller, local level and take steps to make an impact. North Olmsted is fortunate to have an organization such as (the club) to serve as bedrock for our community."

Kolesar said the group raises money through three separate events in the year: a basket raffle in the early spring, usually held at Two Bucks in North Olmsted; a plant sale sponsored by Dean’s Greenhouse in Westlake; and selling Clague Playhouse tickets normally in late November.

She added the club recently donated $2,100 to the following organizations: A Night To Shine, Oxcart Food Pantry of North Olmsted, North Olmsted Senior Center, Cogswell Hall of Cleveland, North Olmsted Kiwanis, North Olmsted School Gardens, Dress for Success and the Ronald McDonald House.

When not serving communities, the group gets together for social activities outside of the club to enjoy themselves and celebrate their friendship, Kolesar said.

The club meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the North Olmsted Senior Center, 28114 Lorain Road

Original Article: https://www.morningjournal.com/news/cuyahoga-count...