Scott City Women's Club celebrates 50 years

While delivering food and clothing to a family on a December night before Christmas, former Scott City Women's Club member Brenda Moyers and other members noticed something empty about the house: It had no Christmas tree. The women stole a tree from a nearby tree lot that was closed but were stopped by a police officer before getting away. After confessing their story, the officer let them go. The women delivered the tree to a teary-eyed father with his wife and children, Moyers said. The tree lot owner refused the women's money when they tried to repay him.

At 50 years and one day, the women's club continues serving the Scott City community, which charter member Shirley Young said has always been its mission. Many former and current members met Thursday night at the reception hall in Schock's Pub to celebrate the club's anniversary.

Young, who was with the club when it began as the Jaycees Wives Club in 1959, said she remembers a Christmas when she gave a toy helicopter to a boy while visiting him and his family at their house. She didn't know how much the present would mean.

"The mother told me that that was the only thing the child has ever asked for," Young said.

The club's name changed to the Junior Wives before becoming the Women's Club around 1980, former member Nancy Caldwell said.

In continuation of its Christmas traditions, the club gave new sets of clothing to 48 Scott City children during the last Christmas season. According to club president Anne Smith, it was one of the club's biggest achievements. More than $2,000 was spent on clothes, and Smith said the club is going to spend at least that much on clothing this year.

The club also has a tradition of awarding an annual scholarship to Scott City high school seniors. Last year the scholarship was worth $250. This year it is worth $500, said Robyn Taylor, who is head of the club's scholarship committee. The scholarship goes to a high school senior who has a good grade point average, a high ACT score and is active in the community.

Smith said the club stays active because of a relentless passion among club members to help children.

"It's a burning desire that we have for our community and our children, to make life a better place for them," Smith said. "If I were rich, I'd bring a Boys and Girls Club here."

Tina Spies, who has lived in Scott City for about 15 years, attended Thursday night's party and said she might join the club.

"There's a lot of good things they do for the community," Spies said. "We actually see what they're doing."

The club of about 20 members meets once a month, in addition to participating in fundraising events, Smith said. Members range in age from the mid-20s to the mid-60s.

For more information, contact Anne Smith at 573-264-3633 or by e-mail at annesmithinscottcitymo@charter.net.