Welcome! Check back often for updates
Welcome! Check back often for updates
Your donations allow us to continue our work within Garrett County. Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you for your support over the years while shopping AmazonSmile for Civic Club of Oakland. Unfortunately, AmazonSmile is closing Feb. 20. Fortunately, we are already set up with a great alternative! Join iGive today (for free) via this link: https://www.iGive.com/CivicClubofOakland When you login & shop their 2,000+ stores (think Chewy, Walmart, Expedia and so many more), we'll earn donations at least TWICE what we earned through AmazonSmile. The average donation through an iGive store is about 3%, with some offering 25% or higher! Make it all automatic. Download the iGive Button & turn your browser into an automatic donation generating machine!
The Antiques and Makers Market is our major fundraising event. For almost 50 years, this event has been a part of Autumn Glory weekend. We welcome Antique dealers and Makers of finely crafted items to join this successful event.
Please contact Jean Tumbarello at gfwc.oakland@yahoo.com for more information.
We will be awarding funds to local non-profit organizations in 2023. Request for funding is made in writing and needs to be postmarked by December 31, 2022.
Please use the link below to find out more information and request an application.
We have just published a NEW cookbook with some of the 1914 recipes along with updated versions. BONUS! We have included some of our famous Antique Show café recipes.
Copies of the cookbook are available at the Book Mark't in downtown Oakland or use the link below to contact us.
The Quick Guide is a directory of services and sources of help available in or near Garrett County. We provide the guides to local organizations FREE of charge for distribution to their clients. Many people do not have internet access and rely on this guide for important phone numbers and other information. The Guide is updated every 2-3 years. Please let us know if your organization needs copies
Each year an outstanding Club woman is named Woman of the Year. She is chosen by the three previous WOTY based on her contributions to the club and community. The 2022 recipient is Karen Lauer.
Since moving to Garrett County about 6 years ago, Karen wasted no time getting involved in the comunity. There is hardly an organization in Garrett County where Karen has not been an active participant... GLAF, HART, Mentors, Art Council, Barn Dance, Wine Festival and more. For the Civic Club, Karen is very active in the Warm the Children program, the spring Flea Market, the fall Antique and Makers Market as well as giving time to the Treasure Chest at the Lighthouse. She loves to 'scissor' with the Craft group. If there is a job to get done, Karen is one of the first people to ask what she can do to help. Karen's ready smile and positive attitude are rays of sunshine to everyone she meets.
Each year an outstanding Club woman is named Volunteer of the Year. She is chosen based on the number of hours she spent devoting volunteer time to club activities. Board members are not eligible for this award. Past winners are Karen Lauer, Betty Ellington, Jean Skinner and Sue McQuaid.
In 2022, Melissa Rank devoted 250 hours as Chair of the Veterans Outreach Community Service Program and manager of the Treasure Chest, a thrift store for clients of the Garrett County Lighthouse. She was also the Bake Sale coordinator for the cafe during the Antique and Makers Market. All this in addition to the work and time she unselfishly gives to other organizations throughout Garrett County.
All work and no play? Not this club! Sure, we work but we have fun getting the job done! Participating in the Autumn Glory Parade (and meeting Maryland Governor Larry Hogan) is just one of the happy things we do!
Check out our photo gallery page for pictures of all our activities and events!
Four times a year, the craft group makes 300 'tray favors' for clients and residents of local assisted living, nursing homes and Meals on Wheels. The favors reflect a holiday season and are cherished by recipients. The group meets two Thursdays a month to get the favors made. It's a great way to get to know each other and make new friends while having fun being artistic. No creative experience necessary - if you can use scissors and a glue gun/stick, you will be able to make a favor.
The Book Club is back! The book club meets from January through October at a local restaurant (third Friday) to plan reading material and discuss the current book selection. Members rate the books on a 1 to 5 scale.
Monthly meetings always result in stimulating discussions with special emphasis on how readers related to the book’s characters.
Kathy Zimmer is the leader of our Environment Committee. Our Club has adopted a portion of Highway 219 in McHenry to keep clean and free of trash. Three times a year we gather to walk along the road to pick up trash - just like our founding members did in Oakland back in 1911. Next 'trash day' will be in Spring 2023.
The International Outreach Committee introduced a new initiative in 2021, one which focuses on improving gender equity, health, and educational outcomes by supporting menstrual health programs in developing countries. For millions of young girls and women in developing nations, their monthly period is met with community and family ostracism, absence of health education, and lack of proper, clean, and affordable hygiene products. Availability of hygiene supplies and health education can provide significant improvements in girls’ classroom attendance, academic achievement, self-image, and in avoiding early pregnancy. Kim Maffett has made traceable patterns, fabric kits, and instructions if you are interested in cutting or sewing pads. Any support you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
The next box of pads will be mailed in spring 2023.
Warm the Children is a national initiative that benefits our local community. We work with Garrett County schools, the Department of Social Services and the local newspaper to purchase warm clothing for families in need. Members notify selected families and take them shopping at our local Walmart.
In 2021 we shopped for over 239 children. Club members wrote over 250 thank you notes to donors who generously gave over $30,000 to the program. We can never have too many shoppers or note writers for this worthwhile program.
This article about the 2021 campaign appeared in the Garrett County Republican on Jan 21, 2022
Founded about 12 years ago by Civic Club members, the Treasure Chest is a thrift store accessible only to clients at the Lighthouse. Clients are able to shop for personal and gift items in a controlled and supportive atmosphere. The money raised at the Treasure Chest is set aside for clients who need emergency financial support for medication co-pays, car repair, rent and other needs. Clients look forward to Tuesdays when the store is open for browsing.