A Force for Good: Highlights from the 100+ Women Who Care’s 2nd Quarterly Meeting
“Energized and excited for what is happening in Morgan County.” This was in an email I received from Melissa Plunket the morning after members of 100+ Women Who Care met last Thursday for their 2nd quarterly meeting. It never crossed my mind that the event could surpass the first meeting in terms of excitement and enthusiasm, but I believe it did. Judge Dakota Van Leeuwen checked in, she became our 100th member, and members kept coming! At 6 pm, I welcomed 103 members and 6 guests, thanked our event sponsors SCI REMC and Carlisle-Branson Funeral Home & Crematory, and reviewed the rules. Michelle Keller’s Brickhouse was brilliantly decorated with lavish, delicious charcuterie displays, and Nosh Dessert Parlour provided incredible desserts all captured by Mike Washington Photography. Giveaways included a gorgeous bouquet from Bud & Bloom Florists, a gift card from Nailed by Amie, and a stylish handbag from Unapologetically Her Boutique.
After Guys Who Give met last month, it was suggested we make member introductions. After all, part of the benefit to joining a group is to meet new people, so we challenged the hour to include quick introductions. Thereafter, three non-profits were drawn from a bulging bucket of nonprofit nominations.
Desert Rose, represented by Carmen Elliott and Executive Director Julie Myers, took the floor and gave an emotional account of the brave women and children escaping domestic violence. Offering safe shelter, therapeutic counseling, and assistance with all of life’s challenges (employment and childcare to start), these women come from all walks of life and areas of the world, like Brazil, South America. Their ask from our members was to replace their aging security system after recent breaches in their current system left some women sheltering there as their abusers gained access to the facility. The nature of the protection Dessert Rose needs to provide is serious, and no doubt about it, a high-tech, current security system is a very reasonable request when asking for grant dollars.
Churches In Mission was drawn next. Susan Haynes, starting as a volunteer at CIM since 1999, very clearly spelled it out – Morgan County is in a food crisis. She highlighted the record 421 food orders set during the pandemic in May 2020. In May 2025, food orders exceeded 1,000. In 2023, CIM spent $20,000 on food, and that jumped to $55,000 in 2024 with 2025 being on track to exceed last year’s demand. She said simply, “We are down to having no food.” She shared with me later she had purchased hot dogs Tuesday evening to ensure there would be a meat offering in the Martinsville food orders on Wednesday. Especially with kids out of school and needing to eat all their meals at home, this is scary. Her speech was overwhelming. Susan was clear – Churches In Mission cannot keep up with the demand for food. We have a serious problem in this county.
League of Miracles was the final draw of the night, and Executive Director, Melissa Plunkett, shed light on all the incredible opportunities this organization provides to those with physical and cognitive disabilities from youth to adults. Offering baseball, basketball, kickball, soccer and more, these recreational sports programs and day camps provide much needed relief to caretakers, and a critical social outlet for the athletes. Located 3 miles east of Mooresville in Camby, we are fortunate to have this right here in Morgan County! Multiple families travel from several counties away just for the chance to be part of this special gathering place. Their ask: funding for equipment and programs, and eventually a new sports park to accommodate more special athletes!
These speeches were humbling, powerful, and enlightening. The crowd erupted with cheers and applause after I announced the winner – Churches In Mission. This was the closest vote yet, with Churches In Mission winning by just 3 votes. Susan Haynes gave a tearful acceptance speech. I guess it takes winning over $30,000 to see Susan nearly speechless. (Besides serving Churches In Mission, Susan is also the Communications Director for Mooresville Schools.)
I had two takeaways from the evening that remain with me. Very few people in that room were aware of the extreme nature of the current food crisis and most are involved members of the community. How did we not know? Thank you for the wakeup call, Susan.
I have been involved in a variety of women’s groups over the years from my college sorority to Women Empowering Women and many in between, but nothing has been more empowering than seeing what is doing for Morgan County in just one hour. This is powerful, ladies, and I urge to join and recruit more ladies (and guys for Guys Who Give Morgan County) who want to experience this kind of transformational giving.
photos by Mike Washington MDub
