Like so many other groups and organizations, the Soroptimists International of Butler County hasn’t been holding regular meetings because of safety precautions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean its members aren’t still helping those in need in their communities.

The Soroptimists have been forced to cancel two of their biggest annual fundraisers, a January lottery and the Spring Fling at the Butler Country Club, because of the pandemic, but service is at the heart of the group’s mission: educating, empowering and enabling women and girls in the community.

On Monday, a mother and her young child were able to move into a South Side apartment that was furnished by the Soroptimists as part of an initiative, A Place to Lay My Head, in which the group supported the transitional living program of the Lighthouse Foundation, a Christian outreach program that helps local impoverished families.

Over the weekend, the Soroptimists brought in bedding, kitchenware, living-room furniture, appliances and other items to get the apartment ready for the family.

A Place to Lay My Head, which was organized by former Soroptimist president Diane Dancik, began as a project to provide pillows and mattresses to women in need and their families, but eventually grew to include furniture, kitchen items and small gifts for their children. In the past six years, the initiative has led to the furnishing of 35 apartments in the county.

“It’s really rewarding to help these women who are having hard times,” said Cindy Magdinec, chairwoman of the project’s committee. “It’s something small we can do for these women who are trying to improve their lives.”

One of the best elements of the initiative is that the recipients of the furniture and other items are able to keep the items once they have moved to more permanent housing after completing the 18-month, transitional-living program.

It speaks very highly of the Soroptimists and their mission that, despite the group having reduced funding because of cancellations prompted by COVID-19, it hasn’t reduced its service to the community.

It’s also impressive that the group was able to do a quick turnaround on getting the apartment ready for this family, despite having fewer resources and no in-person meetings because of the virus.

Knowing that groups such as the Soroptimists, and projects such as A Place to Lay My Head, are doing good deeds for those who need help in the community allows us all to sleep better at night.

— NCD