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W. Wilson Award
The Woodrow Wilson Award is a statewide honor presented to the Junior Club that has made the most improvement within their community without necessitating a raise in taxes. The Junior Woman's Club of Sparta received this distinction for our Safety Village Program. Following is the nomination letter that lead to the award for the 2000-2001 Club year:
The Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta routinely strives to improve the community in which we live through the many service projects we organize throughout the year. The annual Safety Village program, however, is the highlight of our community service where hundreds of children in our town have been impacted by what they have learned and are growing into safe and responsible citizens. Each year the program brings together several community service professionals, many Junior volunteers, and one hundred five- and six-year-olds for a fun-filled week of safety education.
During the last week of June 2000, children who were scheduled to enter Kindergarten in the 2000-2001 school year were eligible to participate in the Safety Village program. The program was held in one of the local elementary schools for four mornings and offered four “classes” each day pertaining to a different safety subject including Stranger Danger, School Bus Safety, Fire Safety, Good Touch/Bad Touch, Bike Safety, Phone Safety, Animal Safety, Poison Awareness and Water Safety. The children were divided into groups of eight to twelve people and were led to each “class” by a group leader. The day began and ended with a Safety Pep Rally and a snack was provided mid-morning.
Safety Village would not be complete without the cooperation of key individuals from the community. Lessons provided by the Sparta Police Department, the Sparta Fire Department, the Sparta Volunteer Ambulance Squad, the Sparta Schools Department of Transportation (school bus ride), and the Sussex County Forestry Service (appearance by Smokey the Bear) created some of the most memorable moments of Safety Village for the children. These organizations anticipate the excitement of the children and look forward to bringing their respective vehicles and equipment to allow the kids to look, climb, and learn.
This event is very volunteer intensive and requires significant participation of our club members in a variety of aspects from organizers to group leaders to teachers. We even have babysitting provided by Juniors for Junior volunteer’s children. In all, thirty of our members spent about 360 hours volunteering. Safety Village is also one of our largest fund-raisers profiting over $2400, which is returned to the community via disbursements at year end.
Safety Village is clearly a culmination of the efforts of many individuals and organizations throughout our community and has a lasting impact on those involved. The children retain a vast majority of what is learned due to the enjoyable manner in which it is taught. Hearing the children around town recite some of the Safety Village catch phrases is evidence that the children have become more safety conscience.
The Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta declared Safety Village as the favorite fund-raiser of the year, but it reaches far beyond simply raising money. The event is one of the most enjoyable at which to work and certainly has the most positive influence on the young people in our town. Safety Village is a perfect example of our club’s mission to work as a group in collaboration with other civic organizations and to make a difference in the lives of others.