OCEANSIDE — After 96 years of helping others, the Oceanside Woman’s Club is asking the community for help. The nonprofit group that raises funds to support local youth, senior and veteran programs, and other worthy causes, is in a bit of a pickle after its water heater broke and flooded its clubhouse.
The Woman’s Club owns its clubhouse on Missouri Avenue, which it uses for its bi-monthly board and membership meetings, and rents out to other community groups.
In July the Rotary Club wrapped up a meeting there, and the water heater unexpectedly broke later that evening. A custodian who was preparing the facility for the upcoming church group meeting found the clubhouse flooded the next morning.
Needed repairs were major, but could have been worse. Some weeks the building is empty, and the flooding could have gone unnoticed for a week or more.
Woman’s Club members discovered their insurance did not cover the water damage, a situation they are going to remedy upon insurance renewal. Another complication was that asbestos was found in the building.
Repairs took about six weeks. During that time the club continued its meetings at the Senior Center and members’ homes.
“We met (at the clubhouse) for the first time last Thursday,” club member Sharron Murray said.
The club is now working to raise $25,000 to cover the costs of flooring and facilities repairs, and water heater replacement.
One effort to raise funds is a pancake breakfast at the Veteran’s Association of North County Resource Center in November.
“We’re hoping for a big turnout,” Maggie Owen, club secretary and past president, said. “The contributions will help us.”
In the meantime the Woman’s Club is continuing to meet, and lend a hand to others.
“If the need arises we rise to the occasion,” Murray said.
The club’s 30-plus members, who are mostly seniors ages 50 to 100, have raised funds for needed Fire Department equipment, sponsored Easter eggs hunts, helped high schools purchase football and choir uniforms, held fundraisers to build the Veterans Association of North County Resource Center and supported countless other local causes in the club’s 90-plus years of service.
The club’s Nov. 6 meeting will honor veteran and feature speaker George Coburn, a decorated World War II veteran. Women veterans will be honored, and toiletries will be collected for the Women’s Resource Center.
“All veterans in attendance will be our guests for lunch following the program,” Owen said.
Monthly membership meetings include an inspirational speaker, or entertainment, and lunch. Club membership is open to all North County women.
The club’s fundraiser pancake breakfast will be held from 7 a.m. to noon Nov. 22 at the Veterans Association of North County Resource Center, 1617 Mission Ave.
This story has been corrected since its original posting.
