One of the things that has meant the most to me about Wicked Wise Women this year is how much heart can live inside a small group of women.
This was our first year, and the donation drive showed me something I will not forget: even with a relatively small number of participating women, the generosity was enormous. The donations added up in a way that felt bigger than the number of people involved, because that is what happens when women decide to show up for each other.
The items gathered through the project will go to the Hope and Justice Project and its free store, where survivors can access everyday essentials and practical support. That purpose matters to me deeply. These donations were not just a collection of things on a table. They were a tangible expression of care, dignity, and community support.
The donation inventory included a wide range of items, grouped around real everyday needs. There were personal care essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, hair elastics, combs, and a first aid travel kit. There were household items like dish soap, multi-surface cleaner, disinfecting wipes, laundry detergent, aluminum foil, trash bags, sandwich bags, dish cloths, and zip storage bags. There were also baby and family items such as diapers, baby wipes, pads, tampons, pregnancy tests, and a gift card to help fill in the gaps when needed.
The donation drive also included school and activity supplies for kids, like coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, pencils, composition books, and painted rocks, along with food items such as ramen noodles, cereal, macaroni and cheese, broccoli pasta mix, spaghetti, elbow macaroni, and soup.
What struck me most was not just the volume of donations, but how generously the women responded when asked to give. These were the women who have been photographed as part of the Wicked Wise Women project — women who said yes to showing up, being seen, and being part of something bigger than themselves. Their generosity reflects exactly what this project has been about from the beginning: women supporting women in meaningful, real-world ways.
I want that to be remembered from this first year. Not just the beauty of the portraits, not just the gala, not just the event itself — but the way a small group of women created a ripple of support that reached beyond the room.
Thank you to every Wicked Wise Woman who contributed. Your kindness made a real difference, and I am so proud to be part of a community that understands how powerful even a small group can be when they give with their whole hearts.
This first year proved what I’ve believed all along — when women show up for each other, beautiful things happen.
