Charity Events
Sweetwater Woman's Club has several charity events throughout the year. There are two primary events for fundraising.
SPRING GARDEN & CRAFT FAIR
Every Spring, SWC hosts its Annual Spring Garden & Craft Fair, a two-day community
event designed to support scholarships while showcasing local artisans and member
involvement. The event featured 21 craft vendors, hourly silent auctions, plant sales, a
General Store, and additional activities that encouraged community participation and
engagement.
The continued success of the Spring Garden & Craft Faire highlights the strength of SWC’s
collaborative approach, combining volunteer leadership, community partnerships, and
member creativity to advance educational opportunities through its scholarship program.
BONITA HOLIDAYS & CRAFT SHOW
Every fall, SWC successfully hosts a three-day Bonita Holiday & Craft Show. This event serves as the organization’s primary fundraiser and represents the culmination of months of preparation, collaboration, and SWC community involvement.
The success of the Craft Show is the result of extensive planning and coordination. Multiple committee meetings are held throughout the year to prepare for the event, all of which are consistently well attended. Each major fundraising component is supported by a dedicated team of SWC members who work collaboratively under clearly defined leadership roles. This structure allows for efficient organization while fostering shared responsibility and community ownership of the event’s success.
Cheese Spread Fundraiser
The Cheese Spread is one of the most significant and long-standing traditions of the Bonita Holiday & Craft Show. The most labor-intensive and community-driven aspect of this fundraiser is “Cheese Day,” held on the Monday prior to the event. Two SWC members coordinate the delivery of approximately 400 pounds of Wisconsin cheese and oversee the full-day production process.
Most members participate, working together to scoop, portion, package, label, and
assemble multipacks for sale. This tradition highlights the dedication, teamwork, and hands- on involvement that define SWC’s fundraising efforts.
Silent Auctions and Hourly Raffles
The Silent Auction and Hourly Raffles were carefully planned to maximize participation and visibility. We seek donations from the community and members of the club.
Bonita Holiday Quilt
SWC members and community participants collaborated to create a handmade quilt that
was raffled at the conclusion of the event.
General Store
The SWC General Store is filled with fun! Most members contributed by baking homemade cookies and breads, making this one of the most broadly supported fundraising efforts. In addition, members donated handcrafted items such as purses, totes, wallets, scarves, pillowcases, and other goods, reflecting the talents and generosity of the membership.
Plant Sales
Plant sales are supported by several preparatory meetings during which members assembled plant arrangements. This effort required advance planning, coordination, and volunteer time to ensure attractive displays and successful sales. The 57th Annual Bonita Holiday & Craft Show exemplifies the strength of SWC’s community-
driven model.
The event’s success reflects countless volunteer hours, effective leadership, teamwork, and a shared commitment to supporting scholarships and philanthropic programs.
