By Melissa Wagoner
For as long as Barbara Fischer-Chase has been a part of the Silverton Zenith Women’s Club there have been two annual fundraisers, a Bunco competition in the spring and a family BINGO night in the fall.
“We have BINGO coming up at the end of October – on Oct. 28,” Fischer-Chase said of the upcoming fundraiser, which will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Family-friendly and economical at just $5 for three cards – refreshments included – the BINGO night will raise money for four causes – the Tree of Giving, layettes for Silverton Legacy Medical Center’s Birth Center, scholarships for graduating Silverton High seniors and the maintenance of Silverton’s Town Square Park.
“The Zenith Women’s Club was behind the creation of the park,” Fischer-Chase explained. The affiliation began when the club paid to have a defunct electric company building torn down, making room for the park.
Now the organization typically supports the city’s annual clean-up efforts as well as the addition of flower baskets each spring.
“Then we put together 75 [layette] bundles in the spring and fall,” Fischer-Chase said, describing another of the club’s community service projects, which provides a quilt or knitted blanket, a store-bought receiving blanket and a onesie to 150 new moms.
But that’s just one way the Zenith Women’s Club aims to support Silverton families; another is the annual Giving Tree – kicking off in November.
“It’s really a community project,” Fischer-Chase said. “We work with the Les Schwab Toy Drive and SACA.”
Providing books, clothing and toys to 208 children in 2022, the Giving Tree is by far the organization’s most recognized cause.
“The trees go up right around Thanksgiving,” Fischer-Chase said, listing Hi-School Pharmacy, Immanuel Lutheran Church, the St. Paul Parish, Silver Creek Fellowship and Wilco as the primary locations. “And Les Schwab has [toy collection] barrels around town.”
But none of these projects would be possible without the Zenith Women’s Club members.
“It’s a great group of women,” Fischer-Chase said. She joined the club when she and her husband moved to Silverton in 2011. “We come from all different churches and backgrounds. We’re just all about community.”
That’s why the Zenith women are hoping the turnout for this year’s BINGO Night will be better than ever before.
“We usually have somewhere between 100 and 150 people show up,” Fischer-Chase said. “It’s a fun, inexpensive family outing.”
That results in a whole lot of good.
Silverton Zenith Club’s BINGO Fundraiser
Immanuel Lutheran Church
303 North Church St., Silverton
Oct, 28, 7 – 9 p.m.
$5 for three cards.
Refreshments provided.
