Community Update - July 2024

HOW Summer Happenings

Greetings Gwynne,

It's only been a month since HOW's Grand Opening in Eastham, yet so much has evolved for us as a team and an organization. We're learning how to operate our programs and services out of two locations, listening to the community about what types of programs you'd like to participate in at the new center and even launched some of those program ideas noted below. We've had a blast selling raffle tickets on the July 4th holiday on Commercial Street and welcomed a new Americore VISTA that has thrown herself right into the mix engaging with new volunteers. Most importantly, we're keeping our mission top of mind and moving ever forward.

Staff recently attended the Outer Cape Town Hall on Public Health Equity organized by Outer Cape Community Solutions, the rural health network HOW co-founded in 2019. The keynote speaker was Dr. Damian Archer, CEO of Outer Cape Health Services. Dr. Archer's message to attendees was that to be effective in our vital, collective work we must create a feeling of trust and belonging with those we serve. We foster that trust and belonging by keeping the following principles top-of-mind when delivering our mission: Credibility, Dependability, Integrity, Altruism, and Connection. Our staff walked away from the town hall event reinvigorated in our work and with ideas on how to best build a sense of inclusion and authentic feeling of being welcome when you walk through HOW's doors for programs or engage with us for services.

As we navigate the new waters of operating two resource centers for women on the Outer Cape, we appreciate your patience and feedback -- and we welcome your participation and presence!

With warmth in my heart for you and all the members of the HOW community, and a wish for cool breezes in your day, Gwynne

HOW's Programs & Multi-Lingual Services Manager; Monica Montoya-Quintero (center) participated in the Town Hall Round Table Discussion

An easy and fun way to support HOW's annual operation costs is to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a shoulder-season trip to Nantucket where you and a friend will fly to the island, wine & dine, and stay at a premier, luxury hotel!

Tickets are sold online and in-person and are just $20 for 1 ticket for $20 and 3 tickets for $50. Think of it this way, $20 fills a bag of food and personal products at our pantry, and $50 pays for part of a monthly bill so a a client member doesn't have stress over paying and can focus on her healing. Click the link below to read prize details and to purchase tickets online with a credit card, Apple Pay, Venmo, or PayPal. If you'd prefer to pay in cash or check, just email us at info@helpingourwomen.org and we can arrange an in-person sale.

CLICK HERE TO BUY RAFFLE TICKETS.

Please help us welcome our new Volunteer Resource Developer AmeriCorps VISTA, Pam Mahoney!

During Pam's time at HOW, she will work to build, strengthen, and sustain the capacity of HOW. Some specific areas include recruiting volunteers, training volunteers, promoting volunteer opportunities, and documenting and tracking volunteer hours. She has been living and working on the Cape since 2009. Her resume reflects her passion for helping people, creativity, event planning, and data analysis.

When not at work, Pam loves watching college football, cooking, attending live music performances, spending days and nights at the beach, traveling and spending time with her mother and son. We are so lucky that Pam choose to share her time, talents, and passion with us by joining the HOW team! Welcome, Pam!

Disability Rights Workshop in collaboration with the Cape Organization for Rights of Disabled (CORD)

Wednesday, June 24th, 2:00-3:30 pm at the Ann Maguire Women's Wellness Center at HOW in Eastham

A "Coffee Talk" Q&A session where CORD staff will join the group gathered at HOW Women's Wellness Center in Eastham via Zoom on the topic of "Stretching Your Dollar". No registration is required.

Stress & Fear: Understanding, Managing, and Responding to Emotions in Times of a Health Crisis - a HOW Peer Wellness Education Series Workshop

Friday, July 26th, 12:00-2:00 pm at the Ann Maguire Women's Wellness Center at HOW in Eastham

Stress and fear are common and challenging feelings for all of us, especially when we have or are dealing with a health issue. Be prepared! Learn to manage stress and emotions in challenging times. This workshop is facilitated by Elise Tofias Phillips, M.Ed., CEO of Navigate Health and Wellness Coaching and Consulting.

Workshop Highlights Include:

• Explore positive coping strategies to build resilience
• Learn about the stress response cycle and the physiology of stress
• Understand the impact stress and fear have on our health and wellness
• Discover coaching tools like active listening and reflection skills to support yourself and others in need

Click here to send Cathy an email to register at Cathy@helpingourwomen.org.

Ongoing HOW offerings...

Weekly Walking Group

Weekly, Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Meet at the Ann Maguire Women's Wellness Center at HOW in Eastham.

Join HOW for a weekly Wednesday walk with time after to socialize over tea in the cool center. No need to register, just swing by if you feel up for it!

Weekly Coffee & Conversation Social Connection Group:

Wednesdays from 2:00-3:30 pm at the Ann Maguire Women's Wellness Center at HOW in Eastham.

Looking to connect, sit someplace cool that’s not your home or meet a friend for a free cup of tea or coffee in our lounge? This is an informal, drop-in group so there is no registration required. As this group evolves, we'll have "guest facilitator hosts with professional social work experience to engage participants in conversations and sometimes it will simply be a mix of staff, volunteers and community members catching up in conversation.

Cancer Support Group

2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month now meeting at Truro Library

This on-going group is always open to new members. Please call Ginny at 508-648-1639 for more information on registration and meeting location.

If you have any questions about our programs or groups, please email info@helpingourwomen.org or click here.

Drag Brunch at the Patio - One of the Most Popular Events of the Summer

Friday, August 23rd, 12 Noon

Thanks to our friends at the Patio for their consistent support of HOW with this super fundraiser!

Click here for details and to purchase tickets.

37th Provincetown Swim 4 Life & Paddler Flotilla

Saturday, September 7th, 2:30 pm in Provincetown Harbor & Wellfleet's Great Pond in the morning,

HOW is grateful to be a beneficiary organization of the beloved community event, Swim 4 Life. This 1.2-mile swim along the East End & 1-mile swim at Wellfleet's Great Pond raises important funds for local organizations.

Click here for details and to register.

HOW's Fall fundraising planning starts soon and we could use help. We're looking for community members with an interest in joining an Event Planning committee or a Silent Auction planning committee. Make impact, meet new friends and have some fun supporting HOW's important fundraising initiatives that help to support the close to 300 women we serve annually.

If you're a local business who would like to donate a gift item, experience or certificate to our auction please let us know!

Please email us with your interest by clicking here.