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Women unite to help women on fringe

A new Largo chapter of Soroptimist International will focus on helping abuse victims and single parents.

By SHANNON TAN
Published April 30, 2005

LARGO - June Wallace has seen Soroptimist International improve the lives of women and children throughout the world. The women's group has offered jobs and skills training to help women in Rwanda, Afghanistan and Bosnia rebuild their lives. The organization also provided prostheses for land mine victims in Afghanistan and educated women in Thailand about AIDS.

There were Soroptimist clubs in Tampa, North Pinellas and Holiday Isles, but none in mid Pinellas. So Wallace, a 20-year Soroptimist member who attends meetings of the Holiday Isles club, decided to help start one in Largo, where she lives.

The organization hopes to increase awareness of domestic violence in the area. Its members will donate personal hygiene items to victims, and might even assist them financially, doing such things as helping victims pay the rent.

The group will donate business wear and shoes to Pinellas Village in Largo, a nonprofit apartment complex for low-income single parents. They also will cook a homemade meal for the women and serve it on linen table cloths. One member will dress up as a clown and give coupons to the women and children so they can "shop" for home decorations donated by the group.

"We're serving them, which is a reversal for them," said Wallace, 69.

Soroptimist International, which has almost 100,000 members in 120 countries, was founded in 1921 by a group of California women. The name comes from two Latin words, meaning "best for women."

The Largo club has drawn 19 members so far, each from a different profession. There's a financial planner, a lawyer, a chiropractor, a banker and the Largo Police Department's senior services officer and domestic violence intervention specialist. Members pay $120 in dues, although financial assistance is available. There are nine spots available for retirees.

At Pinellas Village, the financial planner could teach the women how to balance their checkbooks. Another could teach computer skills or tutor their children.

"They're an organization that really supports women in general," said Frieda Widera, the police domestic violence intervention specialist. She will advise the club on how to help victims, urging such things as putting domestic violence awareness posters on the backs of public restroom doors.

In November, the group will begin accepting applications for two Women's Opportunity Awards, given to women who "fall between the cracks," Wallace said. The grants are for breadwinners trying to improve their education and skills and can be used to fix their cars or pay for child care.

Shannon Tan can be reached at shtan@sptimes.com or 445-4174.

For more information on the Soroptimist International Largo/Mid-Pinellas club, visit www.silargo.net The club meets the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. and the fourth Monday of each month at 7 a.m. at Panera Bread, 10801 Starkey Road, Largo.

[Last modified April 30, 2005, 00:51:14]