The Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club (PJWC) has been actively working to serve our community and create a welcoming environment in Pentwater since 1964.
The PJWC began with three members, Doris Brown, Gail Blum, and Gen Duncan and two daughters continue as current members of the club. In the early years of the club, members were required to resign from the club at the age of 50, hence the name Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club. That requirement has since been lifted as several members have been active with the club for nearly 50 years. In May 1973 the club was elected to membership into the Michigan State Federation of Jr. Women’s Clubs which supported women’s groups involved in civic service.
The PJWC has a long and rich history, not only as a club but with the Juried Art and Craft Fair having taken it over in 1977 from the Pentwater Chamber of Commerce and the original fair founders, Herb and Bessie Behr. The fair is held annually the second Saturday in July and is the major fundraiser for the club. Grants from the fair proceeds are awarded annually by the club and have supported many community organizations, projects and special events over the years. We offer a scholarship to graduates of the Pentwater Public School and have supported the Pentwater Fire Department, Pentwater Police Department, Pentwater Township Library and Pentwater VFW to name a few. The Village of Pentwater has received funding to support the South entrance welcome park, Park Place Community Center and the Village Green, the location of our art fair. The club also sponsors a Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry. This is the 15th year for our mobile pantry which is held the third Tuesday of each month at the Pentwater Fire Department.
Our club is centered around community involvement and improvement but we also like to have fun through social events and outings. Our regular meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month, March through November at the Centenary United Methodist Church. Be sure to mark your calendar for our Annual Juried Art & Craft Fair on the second Saturday in July from 9am to 5pm on the Village Green. We hope to see you there to enjoy not only the artistic offerings but the food, live music, and fun. We gladly welcome new members and hope everyone enjoys their time in Pentwater, will return to visit year after year and just maybe, stay forever.