Women Take the Lead at the GFWC

With 300 attendees at their annual Book and Author Luncheon at the Dunes Club each year, chances are good that you’re familiar with the GFWC Women’s Club of South County. But what you might not know is that these dedicated women work diligently to make positive change throughout the year.

Living the volunteer spirit is the driving force behind the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC). Established in 1890, with more than 60,000 members across the country and world, each chapter is filled with women ready to roll up their collective sleeves and get stuff done. Nowhere is this more true than in the South County chapter. From weekly soup distributions at the state docks in collaboration with the Galilee Mission to quarterly trash clean-ups along Narragansett’s Ocean Road, the Women’s Club of South County tirelessly channels its energy to fill unmet needs in the community.

“Our particular club was formed by a small group of women whose tenure with the Junior League had expired due to them reaching the age of 40,” says Libby Monahan, president of the Women’s Club of South County, noting that the state’s other chapters include Bristol, Cranston, Warwick, and Wampanoag. What started as 10 women meeting in their homes in 1962 has since grown to 135 women gathering monthly for general meetings at the Narragansett Community Center. Convening from September through June, the group seeks to bring women of all backgrounds together for philanthropic activities and community service. Their motto: Unity in diversity.

Driving much of the club’s charitable work are two popular annual fundraisers. President-elect and Fundraising Co-chair Linda Butera-Noble notes that the club’s Book and Author Luncheon, held at the Dunes Club in Narragansett, welcomes three women authors to speak about their books, followed by a book signing, as well as a silent auction and raffles. Usually selling out to 300 attendees, this year’s event will take place on September 16. Funds raised provide grants to local nonprofit agencies and scholarships to women in need.

The second major fundraiser of the GFWC Women’s Club of South County is their Beverage Tasting, where beer and wine vendors offer drinks as attendees enjoy music, food from local sponsors, and more. Butera-Noble, alongside Fundraising Co-chair Debra Zepp, is currently gearing up for this year’s tasting, scheduled for May 13. The event has expanded each year since its inception, and the co-chairs are hoping this spring’s celebration will be its largest yet. “We’re looking to grow sponsors beyond the South County area and find businesses that are compatible with our philanthropic goals and the significant impact that they can help us make,” says Zepp.

The success of these signature events fuels some of the club’s most impactful work around Washington County. In 2025, through its Grow Hope Grants, the group distributed $52,776 among 22 nonprofits that addressed either food insecurity, housing instability, domestic violence, or mental health. Additionally, funds are allocated to two other areas: a scholarship fund provides financial assistance to women pursuing a college degree or vocational credentials to promote self-sufficiency, and an essay contest for middle schoolers that fosters writing skills and encourages young people to think about philanthropy.

Beyond its regional impact, the club offers members something more personal. Reflecting on her 25 years in the club, Monahan notes that making new friends is one of the common reasons people join, something she herself cherishes. “It’s a group of beautiful women who have good hearts and want to do something to make the world a better place,” she says. For more information on the Women’s Club of South County and 2026 events, go to GFWCRI.org and click on the South County tab.