As a child, Maureen Wright would drive around the Barrington area with her mom, dropping off Meals on Wheels to those who needed it. And when the well-known financial adviser moved to the Barrington area two years ago, Wright found herself craving the chance to relive those fond childhood memories all over again.

“I was looking for a way to have a ‘circle of life’ moment happen, where I was able to give back to the programs that really left an impression on me growing up,” explains Wright. “That’s why becoming a member of the Barrington Junior Women’s Club (BJWC) seemed like a perfect fit.”

Indeed, it has been a perfect fit for Wright and the thousands of women who have become members of the illustrious organization over the past 85 years, as they have come together to enhance the lives of women, children, and seniors in the Barrington area.

“I have driven so many Meals on Wheels routes with my kids,” explains Jennifer Miller, who joined BJWC over five years ago after she and her family moved to the Barrington area. “Especially pre-COVID, I would have a meal in one hand and a car seat in the other. I love that it’s something that my children can participate in. They can join me and see firsthand how we can help in the neighborhood and the community.”

Of course, BJWC’s involvement with Meals on Wheels is just one of the countless philanthropic efforts that the organization finds itself part of. In fact, their efforts have benefitted everyone from students in Sunny Hill Elementary School’s tutoring program to those living in developing counties as part of the Feed My Starving Children organization.

“I feel so proud to be part of that group that is inspiring other people,” explains Miller, who currently serves as president of BJWC. “It’s about so much more than just the service hours. There are hours and hours of effort spent on the back end that no one even realizes to ensure that this organization continues to provide all that we can to the community.”

And come November 12, that mission will continue at BJWC’s 2022 Fall Fashion Show, which will shine the light not only on the works of high-end fashion designers but also on local boutiques such as G&G Women’s Boutique, Tru Bleu Boutique, and LUXE Wearhouse.

“We want to bring visibility to shopping local,” adds Wright of the fashion show that will follow a “Vineyard Harvest” theme. Past grant recipients from the annual Fall Fashion Show include Barrington Giving Day, Barrington Area Council on Aging, Lake County Haven, GiGi’s Playhouse, and Barrington Youth and Family Services.

Many of the organizations benefitting from the financial support of the BJWC certainly experienced their share of tough times during the pandemic, but so did the businesses that had donated to BJWC.

“These businesses were suffering too,” remembers Miller. “We really had to balance the needs of what the community needed and what we wanted to do. We had to find ways to support the local businesses that had always been so supportive of us.”

Despite these somewhat tumultuous times, BJWC continued providing financial support to the community, giving out almost $10,000 in scholarships and more than $72,000 in grants just last year. In fact, BJWC made the decision to award grants throughout the year as needed.

“Especially during COVID, certain organizations needed something and needed something now,” explains Miller. “So, we started what we call our Community Fund that we have now reserved for any specific, urgent needs that come up.”

This exact situation happened recently; a local school came to BJWC in the hopes that the organization could help purchase headphones for students to use during their studies. When a beloved community member lost her husband suddenly, leaving her with countless expenses and a one-year-old child, the Community Fund swung into action.

“We were able to contribute to help her with some very basic needs,” says Wright. “It was amazing to be able to make a difference immediately.”

And yes, seeing the faces of those they are helping is something that makes the efforts of BJWC that much more special.

“At each of our monthly meetings, we invite a representative from an organization that we’ve given a grant to or have helped out in the past to come and speak to the group about what their mission is, what they do in the community, and how else we can help beside contributing financially,” says Miller.

Perhaps one of the most gratifying pieces of the BJWC mission is the service-based scholarships traditionally awarded to high school seniors, including the coveted Janice Clark Presidential Scholarship that not only highlights the student’s good works but also helps BJWC ensure the club’s philanthropic spirit will persist for years to come.

“I couldn’t imagine anything better than having these young students, after they graduate from college, come back to the community and become a part of our organization,” concludes Miller. “Our doors will be wide open for them to bring in all their new ideas.”

For more information, visit bjwc.org.