The end of an era - 87th and final Union Aid meeting held Thursday

As it has for eight decades, the annual Union Aid meeting for church women in Clarion included food, fun, an offering for a good cause, and good company. Members, however, won’t be looking forward to another meeting next year. Due to slowing participation, the leaders of the women’s organization decided it was time to close the door on an era.

At noon on Thursday, 62 women and preachers representing the churches of Clarion gathered at the United Presbyterian Church. Mary Kallum informed the attendees that the very first Union Aid, originally called General Aid, was held at the Presbyterian church in 1927. “We think it’s really special to get to host the last one, too,” she said.

Florine Swanson, a former president of Union Aid, led a presentation which started with a skit about how Union Aid began. Becky Ahrendsen and Muriel Demuth of the Iowa River Players portrayed Marg Linfor and Bessie Box, two friends from different churches who, in 1927, bumped into each other while going to their respective church’s ladies’ lunches. The two of them agreed that it would be nice to have a meeting where the ladies from different churches could gather. Thus, Union Aid was born.

For the full story, see the October 8 edition of the Monitor.