NCW businesswoman mobilizes community to Raise $10,000 for Women's Service League

North Central Washington businesswoman Erica Mendoza leveraged community support to award $10,000 to the Women’s Service League of North Central Washington, a service organization that works to empower women in the region.

As an individual, it can be hard to feel like you are making a difference, but the Women’s Service League is a way for women to give back to their community in ways that make an impact, Mendoza said.

Mendoza, owner of East Wenatchee’s Mendoza Insurance Services, initially received a $5,000 donation for the Women’s Service League, thanks to a submission process with Liberty Mutual® and Safeco Insurance® through their 2023 Make More Happen™ Awards. A story of their local partnership was featured on the official Make More Happen microsite where Mendoza Insurance had the opportunity to raise an additional $5,000 by conducting a local awareness campaign for the nonprofit. Together with the community, the goal was met, increasing the total donation to $10,000 for WSL.

“Women’s Service League is super unique in that when you are trying to help in the community, you want to make sure that the impact is visible because we're just one person in what we can do,” Mendoza said in the local awareness campaign video. “And it allows me to create positive connections and returns, I guess like an ROI, that you can truly see how it helps others. The places that we support and the women that are impacted by what we do are very visible, and that helps you continue to do the work.”

“I have been a part of Women’s Service League for many years, and this will give the ability for me to contribute as an upcoming community member and be a part of something that has been very precious to me and helped me develop myself and get myself more confidence and be a part business-wise in the community,” Mendoza said in the video.

The Women’s Service League is dedicated to building a community through the empowerment of women and deliberate volunteer action. They host many events throughout the year to raise money to help women and children. Their biggest fundraiser is My Girlfriend’s Closet, a three-day shopping event that sells new and gently used women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, and purses at low prices. The majority of the proceeds are distributed back into the community in many ways, including scholarship funds for women returning to college and grants to local nonprofits that primarily help women and children.

Last year, the Women’s Service League gave $10,000 in scholarships to women returning to college and $60,000 in grants to North Central Washington nonprofits for women and children.

The award will help the league run its fundraising events, and the remainder will help the Women’s Service League to help others in the region, league president Sue Epoch said.

“It takes a little pressure off some of the upfront expenses,” Epoch said. “Last year we had to rent a space, in the past, that was donated. Putting the money upfront to rent a space is more stressful. The money will help so that we can put on our events and then at the end of the year turn around and award grants and scholarships.”

Other events include a prom dress giveaway, Touch-A-Truck, and diaper drives. The group also collects small toiletries throughout the year and distributes them to school districts for students who need them, as well as members volunteering to help other nonprofits, Epoch said.

The league is always looking for new members, Epoch said.

The Women’s Service League is a great way to meet people and be involved in your community, Mendoza said.

Throughout 2023, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance will select up to 37 independent agents nationwide for a Make More Happen Award, donating up to $370,000 to the nonprofits they support. Agencies became eligible for the award by submitting an application and photos demonstrating their commitment to a specific nonprofit.

“When a company or corporation helps support a community like this, it feels like a validation of the work and impact you are making,” Mendoza said.

Quinn Propst: 509-731-3590 or quinn@ward.media