Where there’s a will, there’s a way — and the Loaves & Fishes Community Soup Kitchen is a beneficiary of that resolve.

By mid-March, it was apparent to the 100+ Women Who Care steering committee in Columbus that its March 24 spring meeting would have to be canceled due to the global pandemic. That presented a dilemma, for it was at that gathering — the Giving Circle — that members would hear presentations from three nominated nonprofits, then vote on which would receive the organization’s biannual Impact Award in excess of $10,000. The group only meets twice a year, each time to select a philanthropic cause to receive a pooled donation created when more than 100 women each contribute $100 to the total.

“We were poised and ready for a March Giving Circle when the world shut down,” remarked Beth Imes, who co-founded the Columbus chapter with Jamie Davidson.

Disappointed but determined, the committee — which goes by KISS, Keep It Simple, Sister — looked for an alternative. Other chapters around the country were using Zoom, but locally the answer proved to be Punchbowl.com, an online invitations service.

Three potential recipient organizations were randomly drawn from among more than 20 member-nomintated and vetted Lowndes County nonprofits — Building Bridges of Hope, Community Benefit Committee, and Loaves & Fishes. Each was asked to submit a video presentation. Normally, they would have sent a representative to the March meeting to tell members about their mission.

Through Punchbowl, members had a week to view the videos and do any research on the organizations themselves, then vote, explained Imes. Loaves & Fishes was selected as the spring recipient. It will receive a minimum Impact Award of $13,600. Community Benefit Committee and Building Bridges of Hope will each receive $500.

“We’re very proud and excited about this new way our Giving Circle has come together to cast votes,” said Imes. “All these organizations that have been nominated are out there doing wonderful things for our community; they are well-deserving and so needed.”

“The officers, board members and numerous volunteers who work with and assist the mission of Loaves & Fishes Community Soup Kitchen of Columbus expressed heartfelt appreciation when they were notified that our organization was chosen to receive the Impact Award,” said Nancy Smith, Loaves & Fishes co-president, along with Ann Sparkman.

Award funds will support the work of the soup kitchen, which will begin its 12th year of operation in August. It currently provides about 25,000 meals per year.

“This will allow us to continue opening our door to feed the disadvantaged and hungry citizens in our city with Christian love and respect for each,” Smith continued. “Thank you to each donor who made a personal donation to 100+ Women Who Care that made this award possible.”

So simple, so positive

For busy women invested in their community, the concept of 100+ Women Who Care is a perfect fit. Members gather for a one-hour meeting in fall and spring, learn about local charities, gift $100 twice annually to go to an organization the group selects. Every penny goes to the Impact Award. The combined donations make an impact without time-consuming fundraising. Accomplishing the spring selection in the midst of a pandemic was a challenge, but the way the Columbus chapter managed it has been of interest to steering committee members of the national 100 Who Care Alliance.

“We learned a lot,” said Imes about devising a successful solution when members could not meet in person.

The Lowndes County group’s Autumn Impact Award meeting is set for Oct. 27. Women from all walks of life are invited to join in “coming together to give together.” Learn more at 100wwccolumbusms.org.

Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.