Page 99 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2017

GIVING BACK positive impact The Duchess
Club
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of Duchess Club
I n 1949, following the end of WWII, a group of local women made the decision to do all they could to make the lives of children in
Ocean Springs better through charity. Growing from homemakers to community advocates, these women formed the basis of the Duchess Club of Ocean Springs. Today, the organization consists of 25 diverse women with the same mission to create and maintain programs that have a positive impact on community children.
“Our organization serves children in the Ocean Springs area in various ways,” said Joey Conwill, one of the group’s members. “The club seeks out disadvantaged children, whether for the purposes of college scholarships, camp scholarships, medical/financial assistance, or aid during the Christmas season.”
Each of the club’s 25 members works on a committee to implement these programs. The Duchess Club’s original service project, the Duchess Club Doll and Toy Drive, remains the organization’s largest project. “The drive has grown significantly over the past decade due
to the increase in families that are struggling financially,” said Wendy Streiff, current president of the Duchess Club. “Members work with the Ocean Springs School counselors to identify needy children. Through donations and fundraisers, we are able to provide toys, shoes, and clothing for approximately 110 children in the Ocean Springs community every year.”
Another of the club’s key initiatives is the Duchess Club Christmas ornament sale, an annual
THE DUCHESS CLUB OF OCEAN SPRINGS is presented a check from the Rotary Club of Ocean Springs.
fundraiser for the doll and toy drive. Christmas ornaments are specifically designed to represent unique Ocean Springs architectural icons and have become a collector’s item for many in the community.
For the past 18 years, the club has provided $1,000 scholarships to entering college freshmen and this year has awarded $4,000 to four deserving seniors.
The Duchess Club
P.O. Box 1946 Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228.282.9550
BACOT/MCCARTY FOUNDATION
A Portion Of This Sponsorship Goes To Support Our Local Charities Along The Coast
WWW.BACOTMCCARTY.ORG
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December 2017 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 99