Dining for Women volunteer Annie Stamford (seated)  is all smiles helping with the DFW silent auction at the Mt. Airy home of Judith Tindall (standing) that brought in over $2000 in December. DFW is an international organization with three local chapters. (Photo by Barbara Sherf)

by Barbara Sherf

When longtime Mt. Airy resident Betsy Teutsch was on the board of a Dining For Women grantee, a girl’s school in a slum of Nairobi, Kenya, she was asked to speak at a Dining for Women (DFW) chapter in Abington. While preparing for the talk, she learned that there were over 200 DFW chapters in which members typically hold a monthly potluck dinner and are encouraged to donate what they would have spent for dinner at a restaurant to the grassroots women's empowerment organization. And she wondered why there wasn’t a DFW Chapter in Northwest Philadelphia.

"It all started with an article I wrote in 2011 for Weavers Way Shuttle asking if there was interest in starting a chapter in this area," said Teutsch. "The demand was so great that we now have three very active local chapters and in four years we have raised more than $87,000 for a host of initiatives that address issues such as vocational training, maternal health and helping women improve their lives and better care for their children."

Teutsch, 63, was on hand to share the DFW accomplishments at the "Beloved White Elephant Auction" in December, hosted at co-chair Judith Tindall's spacious Mt. Airy home. With Tuesday night co-chair Cara Herold and a core group of volunteers at the ready (there are also Thursday night meetings), the auction committee raised over $2000 on items that would typically be discarded or donated to a charity.

"I feel fortunate that we have a home that can host all three chapters and raise both funds and friends for a good cause," said Tindall. "It's been very rewarding to see the women in this group grow more aware of issues facing women in other countries as well as connecting with each other locally."

Herold noted that she knows of women who have put items aside for an entire year for the auction. "We are all trying to get rid of stuff, so what a marvelous way to downsize and share some of our favorite items with women who have become friends," said Herold.

Teutsch noted that the group supports women locally and internationally. "While we make grants to low-income countries, there is also a close-to-home aspect that accompanies the global issues," said Teutsch, noting that member Margaret Guthrie is on the board of Weavers Way Community Programs and volunteers at Stenton Manor's community garden. Guthrie and Bernadette Cronin-Geller help to collect food from each chapter to donate to community food banks, like St. Vincent's Food Pantry in Germantown.

And while DFW is not primarily a professional networking venue, there is, according to Teutsch, a lot of sharing of common interests. "This past year Anne Rouse Sudduth invited all to a showing of ‘Girl Rising,’ a film on empowering teens. We also get to know each other better with a probing question asked at the beginning of each meeting so others can share a bit about themselves."

As an example, at the January Tuesday night meeting, Cronin-Geller, a peace activist and former nun, asked members to share a transition that had taken place in their lives that had not been celebrated. Several members talked about divorce and while it was a huge transition, there really wasn't a celebration of a woman's decision to leave a relationship.

"This is the kind of conversation that women need to have, and that's why I like this group so much," said Wyndmoor resident Flo Geller. "It's not about fashion or the latest cruise, but it's about helping other women and learning more about global issues affecting us all.”

Sue Hoffman echoed those comments. "I’ve learned so much about the struggles women in developing countries face and how they are coming together to change their lives — going to school, learning about their bodies and health, starting small businesses, growing their own food. It gives me a lot of satisfaction knowing I am contributing to the empowerment of women and girls around the world. "

Teutsch noted that while DFW is a fundraising organization, she sees a dual role as an adult learning program. "As we learn about a global issue at our monthly programs, we become better informed about legal discrimination against women, fragile health systems that fail women and the enormous challenges facing girls as they seek to stay in school. Many of our members have traveled with DFW to countries where we have funded programs and have reported back to us on the progress."

Mt. Airy resident Sue Heckrotte said she really looks forward to the monthly meetings. "I love the concept of giving in a circle … And it's not all serious; we do laugh and have fun."

Grace Glenn of Mt. Airy talked of the need for everyone to slow down and listen. "I love that we sit and chat with each other before the meetings, and we never know how we are connected until we do that — sit down and listen.”

The group of more than 20 listened as Joan Farnsworth of Chestnut Hill researched and shared the ways in which amaranth, also known as pigweed, is grown and used in Mexico. Chestnut Hill resident Brighid Blake came full circle by talking about being on the receiving end of the grant money. "I have been teaching in Africa for a number of years, and I'm very encouraged that this group was started. It's refreshing to see how interested people are in this community to helping young women and disadvantaged girls everywhere achieve their potential."

If you are a woman interested in joining one of the chapters, e-mail BPTeutsch@comcast.net or read more at www.wwdfwthursday.wordpress.com.