Over 100 stuffed bears are collected at our Christmas meetings for donation to Harris County Family Courts at Law.  Years ago our own Judge Georgia Dempster started the Bear Closet.  She reminds us how important it is to have something for children to hold while going through a crisis such as a child custody or child abuse case.  She and all of the judges really appreciate what NWFRW do for these children.  

As part of the Mamie Eisenhower Library Project (MELP), each year Northwest Forest Republican Women donates a children’s book to an area library.

NWFRW presented Woodrow, the White House Mouse, by Peter Barnes, to a school librarian.  Over the years NWFRW has donated many books to a variety of libraries in schools, hospitals, and needy housing communities as part of our Caring for America program.  

Northwest Forest Republican Women presented 144 personal dictionaries to six third-grade classes at a local elementary school.  The dictionaries teach the children more than how to spell words.  The dictionaries include a copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the original Constitution, and brief biographies of the Presidents.  They also have a multiplication table, Roman numerals, maps, planets, as well as other visuals and learning aids.  Nitsch is a Title I school (68% of the students are considered economically disadvantaged and 36% are considered transient).

The teachers and staff were grateful and excited to have this valuable tool for their students and immediately began to use them in their classes.  For many students this was the first book that they ever owned.

The photographs show the enthusiasm of the children when they discovered all the extra materials included in the books.       

In response to the National Federation Republican Women program, Northwest Forest Republican Women regularly present the symbol of our nation to a worthy organization in need of a United States Flag.

State Representative District 126, Patricia Harless, Northwest Forest Republican Women member, presented the flag to a local cub scout pack and congratulated the boys on achieving the Arrow of Light Award – the highest award a Cub Scout can earn.  Both boys will transition to Boy Scouts within the next six months.  As a symbol of our freedom, United States Flag respect and etiquette are integral tenets of Scouting as well as an aim promoted by Northwest Forest Republican Women.  

One of our members, a Harris County Blue Star Mom, collects donations at every meeting to send care boxes to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

In 2009 one of our members introduced this project to us.  The goal is to place a wreath on the grave of all soldiers buried in national cemeteries.  Members contribute to the goal of placing a live Maine wreath on gravesites of soldiers at the Houston National Veterans Cemetery in mid December through the Wreaths Across America-Houston project.  

Three of our members volunteer at the Houston National Veteran’s Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038 as National Memorial Ladies who are part of the VAVS (Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service).  On a once-a-month basis, these ladies attend burials at the cemetery to honor our soldiers who have fought for our freedoms.  The Memorial Ladies are there to make sure that no soldier is buried alone.  The ladies present a condolence card to the families to honor their loved ones who gave military service to our country.

The Memorial Ladies work with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (mainly World War II and Korean veterans) and honor guards from local reserve units.  The Memorial Ladies are an integral part of the military ceremony along with the VFW or honor guards.