WAHHI women can put their gifts, expertise, talent, time, and generosity by participating in Difference Makers events. Typically, a monthly project is coordinated to meet a need of one of our community non-profit or other area organizations which may involve education regarding the specified organization’s history & purpose, collection of needed donations, and, as often as possible, hands-on work to benefit an organization‘s short-term need.
WAHHI members who volunteer to lead and/or participate in these projects have FUN meeting and serving these worthwhile charitable organizations in our area. Participation in Difference Maker projects is “as available” and no long-term commitment is required, however, many of our members may decide to become regular volunteers at one of these community non-profit organizations.
If you are interested in suggesting a project or in helping to organize an activity, please complete our Project Request Form. All of us are Difference Makers in our communities! You can participate in a way that works for your time and talents through our projects. You can sign up to participate through WAHHI Events on member resources. Participate as much as you can as every project varies.
Our projects will always tie to our mission and values and include an educational component. If we are bagging oysters with The Outside Foundation, you may stay for lunch after to learn about our local oyster environment. We want to make a difference in a day, but also feel a sense of partnership with the organization that we are supporting. Learning how our hearts and hands can impact the community in big ways makes all the difference!!
We hope you join US this year to Make a Difference in A Day!
Difference Makers Book Collection
Dear WAHHI Women,
It is so exciting that we have collected 676 children’s books at our September luncheon with more still to come! We were able to fill our Little Libraries with some of these books this weekend!
We currently have Little Libraries located at the Hilton Head Boys and Girls Club, Deep Well and the Sandalwood Food Pantry. The Bluffton Boys and Girls Club is now also welcoming books from us.
Thanks to our member Kay Sharp, we will soon have a Library at St Andrews by the Sea. Her husband, Tom, has graciously offered to install it for us!
The ladies of WAHHI have generously kept these libraries filled since 2018! You are all amazing! Anyone that would still like to donate books to this cause is welcome to place books in the libraries at any time or feel free to contact Cathy Todd for pick up. cathytoddhh@gmail.com
Again, we thank everyone who has donated books or volunteered in the collection. You have definitely made a Difference!
Cathy Todd
Difference Makers September Project
Little Library Program.
In 2018, WAHHI member CATHY TODD’s father, Donald Wagner and Dr. Harold Cross, both residents of Seabrook Retirement Community, built 3 book boxes and placed them on Hilton Head. They built them after learning about the program and wanting to help children have access to reading. Throughout the year, others in the community have donated to these libraries and often the books are returned by the children before taking a new book- just like a library.
The libraries are located at the Boys and Girls Club of Hilton Head, Deep Well and Sandalwood Food Pantry. They are loved and well used and are refilled often. As Cathy told us: “One day when I was refilling a library, a man approached me and asked if he was allowed to borrow a book. I said of course he was welcome to borrow books whenever he liked. He thanked me then told me he was using our books to help himself learn to read better. It made me realize how important this program is.”
Two years ago, approximately 870 books were donated by our generous and amazing members through our Difference Makers. Difference Makers collects these books to help restock the boxes with fresh, new reading materials for the island’s children and young adults. Most of these books have now been distributed!
October Hopeful Horizons Project Recap and photos
Your generosity is overwhelming, and we are so grateful for what you achieved! Over 50 kits were put together for survivors of domestic violence who are starting their lives over and working with Hopeful Horizons, right here in our community. Thank you for your enthusiasm, your caring and kindness, your gifts and your hard work.
Our volunteer team will be helping families establish new homes after fleeing violence and they will have that very special feeling of “home” when they move in. Thank you thank you thank you!
The Joy of Health & Wellness
Difference Makers held a very successful event, The Joy of Health & Wellness on March 9th @ Hilton Head Public Library.
70+ WAHHI women heard from an OB/Gyn doctor (and WAHHI member) about the importance of staying up to date on pelvic, breast & colon screening exams and the importance of flu, pneumonia, shingles, and other vaccines.
An HHI Fire & Rescue representative gave details and demonstrated the hands-only CPR method and how to find and use an AED machine.
Our WAHHI past President, Tamra Avrit, spoke via video about saving her husband’s life by performing CPR.
The importance of blood donation was stressed by an American Red Cross representative and a Nurse Practitioner from Hospice Care of the Lowcountry spoke about hospice vs palliative care.
All speakers were available afterward for questions and with information on how to sign up for CPR classes & blood donation.
Click here for more information
The Difference Makers are happy to entertain opportunities to support a local nonprofit organization in making a difference in a day. If you have an opportunity that you would like us to consider, please click the link below to complete our application. We receive many requests during the year and will try to accommodate as many as possible! Please make sure to add your group’s contact information.
We have completed the following projects:
- Help teach children about the environment by gathering recyclables for The Sandbox.
- The Sandbox is an interactive children’s museum that conducts art classes and teaches children to make art projects with recyclables donated by our members.
- Address food insecurity in our community through a food drive to support the new wellness store at Volunteers in Medicine.
- Bring joy and laughter during the holidays to the families of The Children’s Center. This year our neighborhood teams gathered over 400 gifts that were sorted to create a full package for every family member of all the children from The Children’s Center.
- Supported awareness of domestic violence and collected personal items for women and their families in emergency shelters for Hopeful Horizons.
- Helped create Christmas ornaments with the Rays at Pockets Full of Sunshine.
- Cleared the campus and built a walkway to link the medical offices to the new Wellness Center at Volunteers in Medicine. Learned about the importance of the need to supply healthy food and vegetables to our community.
- Worked with the American Heart Association and other medical professionals to have open conversations about health and wellness issues for women.
- Promote environmental awareness by filling 150 bags of oyster shells used to build oyster habitats and promote oyster shell recycling efforts in collaboration with The Outside Foundation.
- Clean up our beaches and keep the environment beautiful and safe with The Outside Foundation.
A huge THANK YOU to the leadership of Difference Makers and every WAHHI member who contributed to the success of these efforts.
