By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Wonder Women League of Ellis County is hosting an elegant social evening to raise money for the United Way and other causes the league supports.
Power of the Purse, which will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn, will include an inspirational speaker, meal, and raffles as well as live and silent auctions for new purses. Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m.
This year's featured speaker is Lisa McGrath, author of "The Journey Between Us." She will give an inspirational message about how her faith led her through several unthinkable events.
Wonder Women League is a non-profit that is under the umbrella of the United Way of Ellis County.
"By giving a portion of our profit from the Power of the Purse, we are able to support the [United Way] partner agencies," Nancy Jeter, co-chairwoman of the league, said. "They support all sections of the community and all sorts of populations."
"In addition, Wonder Women League — its membership fees and Power of the Purse — allows us to do some really awesome projects in town.
"We've done projects that supported the elderly, that have supported children, that have supported people who have disabilities, and have supported women and families in general."
Two of the league's ongoing projects include Project Suitcase, which provides duffle bags to children removed from their homes for abuse or neglect; and Matthew's Gift, which provides bags containing comfort items to people who have family members airlifted from HaysMed.
Recently the league has also made donations to the First Step Housing Project, DSNWK's Custom Creations business and Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services' "What You Were Wearing?" art installation.
"There are so many things Wonder Women can do as a group that a woman individually doesn't have the means to do," Jeter said.
You can learn more about the league by visiting the United Way of Ellis County website. Annual dues in the league are a minimum donation of $50. A membership application is available online.
Tickets can be purchased for Power of the Purse for $40 online, at the United Way of Ellis County and the Hays Welcome Center. Sept. 23 is the last day to buy tickets.
A table of eight costs $300. Attendees can also purchase advance raffle tickets for $5 each or five tickets for $20.
You do not have to be a member of the Wonder Women League to attend, and there is no obligation to join.
Tickets entitle the attendee to a meal plus two free alcoholic drink tickets. Beer and wine will be served.
The league plans to take measures to address COVID concerns.
Should COVID restrictions cause the cancelation of the event, ticket holders will have the option of using their tickets at a future Power of the Purse event. If the in-person event is canceled, the WWL intends to mount an online auction for the purses it currently has on hand.
Watch the United Way Facebook page in the coming weeks for a sampling of the purses that will be auctioned and raffled at the event.
Editor's note: Cristina Janney is a member of the Wonder Women League.