DIXON, CA (MPG) - From providing incentives via ‘swag’ for Maine Prairie students to assisting in 4-H membership fees for a dozen Dixon youth, the members of the Dixon Women’s Improvement Club continue to nurture through its community grants. 

This club of some 50 members recognizes the need within the community to strengthen existing programs and expand learning opportunities by providing monetary grants to classrooms, programs, and nonprofit organizations that serve the Dixon community. 

Teri Brown, Chair of the DWIC Community Grant Committee, announced this year’s recipients at their last meeting where recipients were guests for the club’s annual luncheon. As in the past, requests exceeded the funds available but five were chosen.

“Our students have an unfortunate disadvantage due to language, culture, ethnicity, etc.,” said Angelina Arias, a counselor at Maine Prairie who has been in education for 25 years. “Every Friday, everyone wears their school swag, and we want to purchase swag such as lanyards, water bottles, and T-shirts with our logos on them to incentivize and award for perfect attendance, positive behavior, or most improved.” They received a $500 grant.

Two different 4-H clubs, Maine Prairie 4-H and Dixon Ridge 4-H both were awarded $500 each to enable six new members each to cover program fees. Both 4-H programs in Dixon have experienced a significant increase in underserved youth enrolling and those need financial assistance to participate and due to the pandemic, fundraising efforts have been limited. Each received a $500 grant.

Bids for Kids also was awarded $500 with President James Fuller thanking the club for its support.

“We get along in life with the help of others,” said Fuller who explained how the organization fosters youth into agriculture by buying or bolstering bids on animals that students raise and show at the Dixon May Fair and Solano County Fair. “In the High-5 Club, the students agree to give back 5 percent to helping somebody else.” This year, they served 46 students.

Barbara Stocking of The Little Dress Project, an organization that provides brand new clothing to children ages 5 to 7 years old, who delivers clothing for 30 children every month at three elementary schools in Dixon. 

Lastly, the Dixon Historical Society was awarded funds for two bookshelves, a table, and chair to create a permanent display for their collection of Dixon High School Chanticleer yearbooks.

Over the past three years, the Dixon Women’s Improvement Club has given more than $5,000 in community grants to local programs to help them go the extra step to accomplish goals. These funds are raised through dues and their annual fundraising dinner at Bud’s Pub and Grill, which also features a very popular raffle with dozens of decorated gift baskets. For more information, see the new DWIC Facebook page.