Women's League seeks new members, volunteers

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 31, 2005

The Catholic Women's League, Inc. membership drive is now underway. The organization welcomes new members and volunteers to help at the Bargain Center.

A donation of $5 per member allows for 24 Masses, two a month, to be offered yearly in the members name. Masses are also said for members at death.

There are currently 580 members of the CWL and there are hopes of more members since they are in a membership drive.

The object of the Catholic Women's League is to maintain and operate the Bargain Center until such time as the board by a two-third majority vote deem it unprofitable, to administer to the poor, underprivileged and afflicted, to cooperate with other service organizations and to work with all city parishes to aid with tuition assistance for the Catholic Schools of Sioux City.

The Catholic Women's League runs the Bargain Center located at 1001 West 7th St. in Sioux City. The store is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The current building has been up and running since August 1976. The first store was opened in March 1952.

Currently there are about 90 to 100 people that volunteer at the center at least once a month. According to Lexie Kuhl, president of the Catholic Women's League, they are in need of volunteers and would welcome people to work a few hours a month.

"We are always looking for new volunteers. We love to have new volunteers," said Kuhl. She added that there is one 91-year-old woman who volunteers and many others are in their 80s.

The Bargain Center gives about $500 worth of clothing monthly to people in need of them, noted Kuhl. People are given vouchers from churches or Siouxland organizations to redeem clothing for their family.

"We don't restrict vouchers," said Kuhl. "We honor whatever they send down to us, but we will only serve people one time in a three-month span. We will give each person two full outfits. If a woman comes in with three kids, each person gets two full outfits."

The profit from the Bargain Center supplies emergency help to the unfortunate, donations to the poor and assists the Catholic Schools of Sioux City. This year's school support amounted to $78,500.

"There are so many kids that wouldn't be able to go to the Catholic schools if it weren't for us," said Kuhl. "I think that is even more so now than in the past with tuition going up."

Along with donating money to the Catholic Schools of Sioux City, at Christmas CWL gives money to the Council on Sexual Assault, Red Cross, Mid-step Services, Siouxland Right to Life, Gospel Mission, Briar Cliff University, Birthright and Catholic Charities.

Donations to the Bargain Center are welcome during business hours or can be deposited in the drop box located at the back door of the center.

Memberships may be sent to Catholic Women's League, Inc., PO Box 955, Sioux City, IA 51102. If interested in becoming a member or volunteer, people can call (712) 233-2578, (712) 239-3375 or (712) 255-0575.

"Where else can you get 24 Masses a year for $5?" asked Kuhl. "We are helping maintain the Catholic Schools. It is a bunch of very religious people that pray for each other. I think that is an interesting part of it."