Greene Publishing, Inc.

By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.
There was a lot more than the usual noon meeting in store Thursday, March 10, for the Madison Woman’s Club.  Beginning at 10:30 that morning, club member Ann Smith had opened her historic home, the Dr. Chandler H. Smith House, and invited everyone to come by for a tour. For the next hour or so, club members dropped by the two storey Queen Anne Victorian dwelling, which had also won the “Yard of the Month Club” award a few days earlier from the Madison Garden Club.
Ann greeted everyone at the front door and welcomed them into the house where her husband, Sim Smith, had grown up, sharing stories of his childhood escapades – everything from sneaking upstairs to smoke cigarettes with friends, to throwing lighted matches off the roof.  “It’s a wonder the house is still standing!”  She said.
Ann and Sim Smith bought the family home from Sim’s sisters several years ago, and submitted an application to the National Register of Homes.  The application process was a long one, but they finally got their home officially listed on March 26, 1998.  The registration certificate now hangs in the front hallway.
They also began the process of restoring the home, a work that is still in progress in some parts of the house. However, the results so far are stunning, and visitors who wandered through the beautifully decorated rooms remarked that it was like visiting a museum, or stepping back in time.  The walls were painted in shades of rose, wine, blue, mint green and golden yellow and each piece of furniture had a history all its own.  Downstairs, the blue and white kitchen, with glass front cabinets and its own fireplace, was a favorite.  “I could just live here in this kitchen and never leave,” said one amazed guest.  Upstairs, sunlight filtered through antique lace curtains and white shutters into bedrooms decorated in period style.  Complete with vintage bed covers and historic photographs on some of the walls, each room looked like a picture postcard from a bygone era.
“It’s been a lengthy journey,” Ann says of the restoration process, “and it’s not over yet.”
Following the home tour, everyone gathered at the Woman’s Club for their noon meeting and lunch, a St. Paddy’s Day-themed fundraiser that included a fashion show and a silent auction.  There, another treat awaited everyone as Official Leprechaun Josh Jordan Waring (son of club member Elizabeth Waring and grandson of club president Jackie Johnson) handed out gold-wrapped chocolate coins.  Off to the side, a room full of pretty things donated by members awaited bids for the silent auction.
But the biggest hit was the fashion show, featuring some of the latest looks from the spring collection of Fads ‘n’ Fashions of Valdosta.  Models Leigh Barfield, Jean Brandies, Kay Browning, Margaret Ann Bunch, Wanda Dickinson, Terry Fall, Frances Mercer, Lou Miller, Myra Valentine, Elizabeth Waring and Raye Wooley worked the stage in colorful ensembles and accessories while Larry McWilliams provided musical accompaniment on the piano.
Lex Webb was the usher, offering the models a hand as they stepped down from shamrock-and-rainbow-decorated stage to the floor, while Betty Williams narrated descriptions of their outfits.
Afterwards, the winning bids were announced for the silent auction, which had raised $617.  Proceeds from the auction and ticket sales for the fashion show will go toward needed maintenance and upkeep of the Woman’s Club building.

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The idea of dressing glamorously or wearing the nicest clothes has always been part of the American dream; however, in the past five years, TOMS Shoes has begun a revolution across the country. They have prompted other companies to begin similar campaigns across the United States. However, few charities have reached to the expanses that TOMS Shoes have.
For those who have never heard of it, TOMS Shoes is a company that specializes in lightweight cloth shoes. But these shoes are more than just comfortable every day shoes, they are for a good cause. For every pair of TOMS Shoes that is purchased, TOMS will donate a pair to children in other countries, as well as the United States, who need them.
For children in poverty-stricken countries, shoes can be the biggest need of all. Most children in other countries cannot go to school without shoes. They can also contract the diseases podoconiosis, which is a form of elephantiasis caused by walking on volcanic soil. This disease is easily prevented, by simply wearing shoes from the time they are children until they become adults.
The shoes are alpargata style and come in a variety of colors. They even offer wedges and boots along with the classics. While the style of the shoes might not be the glamorous look that many people would normally go for, they definitely make a statement. They have become insanely popular for tweens, teens and young adults, especially those who are interested in helping others.
TOMS Shoes has sold more than 600,000 pairs of shoes in the last five years. This means they have also donated more than 600,000 pairs of new shoes to children who need them. While the shoes are not cheap, they average about $55 a pair, the meaning behind each pair is phenomenal and when you purchase one pair, you are actually purchasing two: one for you and one for a child in need.
There are many charities that claim to be like TOMS, saying that they will donate their products or profits, but in reality they donate very little, if any. TOMS Shoes is a different story. If you visit their website, www.toms.com, you will see photos of their CEO, Blake Mycoskie, sunburned and putting shoes on children in the middle of the desert. The group from TOMS Shoes makes several trips every year to different countries, as well as areas across the United States, to distribute their shoes in person.
These shoe drops are organized by a TOMS’ partner organization called Friends of TOMS. Friends of TOMS help TOMS to distribute shoes all over the world. Anyone can become a shoe drop volunteer and a Friend of TOMS. Simply visit www.friendsoftoms.org to receive more information on how to get involved. There are numerous drops each year, and they need all of the support they can get. Every person can make a difference.
In the modern era, perhaps the mindset will change; maybe it isn’t the style of clothes you wear, but the meaning behind them. Maybe it will become easier to help others, while still helping yourself. Donating and making a difference in another persons life is a great way to improve your quality of life as well as the quality of life for others.