Submitted photo: GFWC McAlester Fortnightly Literary Members L-R: Angie Sellmeyer, Vice Director; Ellen Wilson, Vicky Bolte, Cynthia Henrichs, Linda Navratil and Megan Ciolli, Director. Members not shown: Carla Austin, June Doyle, Jan Jobey, Ellie Merwitz, Jayna Santine, and Terry Yates
By Angie Sellmeyer, Fortnightly Past President and current Historian
McAlester, OK, January 2026 – GFWC-OK McAlester Fortnightly, a volunteer club within the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), recently donated requested items to the KIBOIS Women’s Shelter. Fortnightly Clubwomen are concerned with the welfare of women and children who experience domestic abuse in our community.
The GFWC International Signature Project is Domestic Abuse Awareness and Prevention. The Literary members of GFWC McAlester Fortnightly collected, with some grandchildren as helpers, and delivered children’s gift packs to the Pittsburgh County, women’s domestic abuse shelter. Items donated included; fingernail polish, hair accessories, jewelry and toys in fun plastic shapes.
Celeste Lawson, Lead Advocate and Pittsburg County shelter manager remarked, “We are always grateful and excited for the donation items brought by McAlester Fortnightly volunteers to our shelter, thank you.”
The Director of the Haskell and Pittsburg Counties Domestic Abuse Women’s Shelters, McKinlee Crase, has four years of experience supervising these shelters.
The State Hotline number is 800-522-7233. Pittsburg County Shelter Crisis number is 918-426-4448, advocates are available to assist those who call inquiring for assistance. General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), is dedicated to enhancing the lives of others through volunteer community service.
You can learn more about the volunteer activities clubwomen are performing in the Pittsburg County, Oklahoma area by contacting GFWC-OK McAlester Fortnightly Club President, Brenda Calahan, at 918-916-0947.
