Party with a Purpose
By Pam Webb, Cape Canaveral Branch
One day at my Zumba class, I met another woman dancing to the music and it turned out we had a lot in common. Both of us had been boating enthusiasts in the Bahamas, were creative, and were named Pam. Pam Farley was a talented jewelry artist and I (Pam E. Webb) was an award-winning watercolor artist. We instantly became best friends.
Many years ago, my mother, Elaine Stone, had started the NLAPW Cape Canaveral Branch, so I became a member, too. Living on a sailboat in the Bahamas at that time, I was away most of each year, but managed to go to a few meetings and met many of the talented ladies.
After I became a widow and my mother passed away, my life changed. I was still boating, but spending more time in Florida. I decided to get more involved with the Pen Women. After meeting Pam Farley, I invited her to come to the meetings. She liked the organization and decided to join.
Pam and I came up with an idea to start having an art and jewelry party in the fall every year before Christmas. She offered to host the first one at her house and it was a big success.
In 2019, just prior to the third year of our event, Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco, Bahamas. This was our favorite boating area, and we were both sad for the people there. The idea came to us to use our party as a fundraiser to help with the recovery efforts for the Abaco Islands. I put six of my original paintings of local Abaco scenes on Facebook for sale and all sold, so I donated the proceeds to the Abacos. After the art and jewelry party at my house, Pam and I donated some of the proceeds from the event to the Abaco people as well.
We didn’t try to have a party the next year due to the pandemic, but started up again in 2021. Since we had the previous success fundraising, we decided to try that again. Pam had traveled to Uganda with an Organization called Solar Light for Africa, whose mission is to transform lives and empower the people of Africa by providing light and energy using the natural power of the sun. While in Uganda, Pam’s group installed solar lighting in the toilet and shower rooms at Otino Waa orphanage in Lira and in the teachers’ living quarters of a primary school in Jinja.
The group visited and checked on the solar equipment at the site of a previous solar installation, a school for the deaf. They shopped in the Acholi Quarter at Project Have Hope, an organization that helps women transform their lives through the sale of handmade crafts. Pam hosted the party at her house in 2021 and put on a slide show and presentation while we sold our art and jewelry. Our fundraiser was a success and we donated some of our proceeds to Solar Light for Africa.
Last year, Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida and flooded other areas. Our Melbourne area was spared and we were very thankful. It was my turn to host the party, which would benefit the hurricane recovery efforts. We invited everyone to come on Nov. 12 and were very surprised when Hurricane Nicole came ashore just south of Melbourne on Nov. 10. Very little damage was done to our area, so we plowed ahead with the art and jewelry party two days later and donated some of our proceeds to Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.
Putting these parties together was a lot of work for both of us, but very worthwhile. We always have wine, beverages, and delicious appetizers. Since we had such good success with our fundraising party idea, we wanted to share it with the other branches and Pen Women. It’s something that individuals, small groups, or an entire branch can organize. Of course, Pam and I always invite all our Cape Canaveral Pen Women to the parties — and are happy to have them join us and support our different causes.