May 2025 Volume 9, Issue 5

For officer and chair contact information, click here.

Lunch and Dinner Reservations

• Reservations are due by noon on the Thursday before the meeting.
• Cancellations are due on that day, too.
• Please register online when possible. If you can't RSVP online, please contact the Treasurer (Claire Whitney) or me by noon on the Thursday before the meeting.

We appreciate your cooperation and can’t wait to see you at our next meeting.

Arlene Handler-Smith

amenities@womansclubofindio.org

Memorial Day Ceremony to Honor & Remember

We will honor veterans at the Coachella Valley Cemetery located at 82925 52nd Ave, Coachella. The Ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m., and all Woman's Club members and their families are invited to attend.

Please email the WCI President if you have questions:  president@womansclubofindio.org.

The 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Coachella Valley

Save the date!

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Please join the GFWC Woman's Club of Indio as we support the Alzheimer’s Association in its annual fundraising event. This event provides a unique opportunity to connect with others who share the same commitment to ending Alzheimer's. By walking together, we honor those affected by this disease but also demonstrate our collective strength and determination to make a difference. Every step taken and every dollar raised brings us closer to a world without Alzheimer's. The event is more than a fundraiser; it's a community movement that inspires hope and fosters solidarity.

Please mark your calendars, lace up your walking shoes, and join us in making strides toward a brighter future. Your participation and support are crucial in helping the Alzheimer's Association continue their vital work in research, care, and advocacy. Together, we can create a lasting impact and bring hope to millions of families. Let’s walk to end Alzheimer’s!

Join our team at the link below: GFWC Woman's Club of Indio

http://act.alz.org/goto/GFWCWomansClubofIndio

Interested in Volunteering?

You've come to the right place!

WCI is dedicated to serving our community, and we would like to say that our business is volunteering. We have a list of nonprofit organizations we support with contact information for learning more about them. Click on the "Who We Support" link below to learn more. Volunteers are always needed and genuinely forever appreciated.

DID YOU KNOW? A Closer Look at Shelter From the Storm

Did you know that Shelter from the Storm (SFTS) operates a home where families can stay for up to six months? In addition to that shelter, they also support 30 families across the Coachella Valley who live in rented housing. This vital support includes food, housing assistance, and other daily living essentials. SFTS further provides access to medical, dental, and mental health services—meeting the full spectrum of basic needs.

You may be wondering about the Christmas gifts our Club provided to families through SFTS. One of the families had requested an air fryer, a handheld vacuum, and movie passes. Several members asked, “Why not clothing or toys?” Those items are often covered by organizations such as the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and the Galilee Center. This particular family was living in a one-room casita with no kitchen or bathroom. A shower curtain offered minimal privacy around a toilet and shower. Handwashing took place in the small food prep area, which included only a bar-sized refrigerator and an outdated microwave. The air fryer was the only practical way the mother could prepare warm, healthy meals for her children. The movie passes provided a much-needed escape from the confinement of their space. The handheld vacuum helped her clean up dust and dirt that blew in through the open doors and windows.

Where do families helped by SFTS get their food, groceries, gasoline, and other essentials? Stay tuned—we’ll explore that in a future article.

As always, thank you for your generosity.



In Gratitude

Barbara Fairbairn, Chair

If you have any questions about Health & Wellness, please email health@womansclubofindio.org

School Supplies/Backpack Drive &

August Giveaway  

It’s time for our Annual WCI Spring School Supplies and Backpack Drive for kids in the Coachella Valley. All donations will be delivered to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (CVRM) in Indio and the Galilee Center (GC) in Mecca. 

Members are encouraged to bring their donations to the May 7th monthly meeting. If you cannot make the May 7th meeting, you can contact members of the Health and Wellness Committee at health@womansclubofindio.org to arrange an alternative pickup of your items.

MOST NEEDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES

backpacks - #2 pencils - notebook paper - spiral notebooks

box of 24 crayons - glue sticks - rulers - colored pencils

safety scissors - pencil boxes/pouches- highlighters

pink erasers - folders - 3” binders - calculators - index cards

sharpeners - lined paper - lined notebooks

Monetary donations are also welcome - CLICK HERE to contribute. Please indicate that your donation is for the school supplies/backpack drive, and we’ll do the shopping for you. Due to the anticipated hot weather, there will be no separate donation event in June or July.

Members can also help sorting, packing, and distributing filled backpacks in early August at either CVRM or GC. No preregistration is required. The exact dates and times for these activities will be in our August newsletter.

Meal Prep & Serve Program at CVRM

The May 31st WCI Meal Prep & Serve Event at CVRM has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict with our Scholarship and Appreciation Brunch. The Meal Prep & Serve Program will resume during the summer, with events scheduled for June 28th and July 26th. Thank you to Natalie, Sylvia, and Pamela for serving on April 26th. Although Pamela and Sylvia wanted to be at the card writing event, they said they were happy to help at the Mission, making PB&J sandwiches and serving meals.

Our members have expressed great joy and satisfaction in prepping and serving healthy, fresh food to the folks at CVRM. If you would like to be part of this meaningful program, please sign up at our May 7th monthly meeting or contact us at health@womansclubofindio.org 

You Are Our History!

Please add your autobiography to the others our members create by filling out the form on our website. You deserve to be remembered for your life outside the club and your participation as a member. Go to www.WCIndio.org.

• Click on About Us in the top menu.
• Click on Our History in the dropdown menu.
• Scroll down to the biography questions. 
• The questions are just above the blue club photo.
• Write as much or as little as you like.



A big shout-out to Manuel and Delia Aguayo! They have been chosen as May’s Yard of the Month recipients. Manuel and Delia have lived in the desert for over 60 years. Both arrived as young children, along with their families; Manuel’s from Mexico and Delia’s from Texas. They were raised in the Coachella Valley and loved it so much that they decided to stay and raise their family here.They are the proud parents of two adult children and five grandchildren.

Manuel is retired from many years of golf course maintenance, finishing his career at the Eldorado in Indian Wells. After retiring and finding extra time, he continued maintaining their beautiful yards, doing all the planting, trimming, and maintenance himself. They have several fragrant, flowering plumeria trees and many colorful flowers. Some are annual, and some change with the desert's seasons. Let's give well-deserved recognition to our newest Yard of the Month recipients, Manuel and Delia Aguayo.

AVOID GETTING SCAMMED: Know the Warning Signs

We often hear about a neighbor or friend who has fallen victim to a scam. While it’s upsetting, many of these situations are preventable with the right knowledge. The first step is knowing how to recognize a scam and protect yourself.

At this time of year, two common scams are especially active:

• IRS/Tax Scams
• Grandkid Scams

Take a moment to click the links below to learn more about these scams and how to stay safe. If you are unsure about a phone call, email, or message, stop and pause before acting. Ask yourself:

• Can I verify this independently?
• Am I being pressured to act quickly?
• Am I being asked to share personal information or send money?

Don't send money or give out personal details unless you’re absolutely certain it's safe.

And remember: Sharing is caring. Spread the word to friends and neighbors—awareness is one of the best defenses against fraud.

Each month, we post photos of the Woman's Club of Indio events and activities grouped by event. We hope you enjoy them. If you have photos you would like to include in the newsletter photo gallery, please send them to editor@womansclubofindio.org. Thank you.

Click below to see photos of April events

Editor's Note

We hope the newsletter is a valuable resource for everyone. Remember that anyone can submit an article; submissions are due on the 15th of each month. Please share the amazing stories, events, and updates that make our club so special.

Yours in Service,

Lorelei Ceja

editor@womansclubofindio.org

CFWC AND GFWC

The California Federation of Women’s Clubs is a statewide non-profit service organization, and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a non-profit international organization. Both are dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.

Please send articles, questions, and corrections to Editor Lorelei Ceja at editor@womansclubofindio.org.

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