Montville Township Woman's Club History

Our history, from the past to the present.

Pile of old books depicting Montville Womans Club history


In 1962, 44 women started a new women's club in Montville bring together interested women of the Community for active promotion of non-partisan, non-sectarian, civic, cultural, education and social activities. Since that time, the MTWC has engaged in fundraising, cultural, social and community activities which have been focused on supporting the needs of charitable organizations, participating in community social, academic and historical events and working to provide members with a platform for supporting cultural, environmental and social groups and their endeavors.


Early in our history, a certified Brailist among the members taught us the slate braille method, enabling us to make braille children's books. For her constant guidance and inspiration during her years in the club, Lucille Cumming was placed on the honor roll at the convention in Atlantic City. After her untimely death in 1974, the club continues to award the Lucille Cumming Memorial Scholarship annually to a worthy Montville Township high school student.

Among the many charities we've supported in the past include:

 the Tom Dooley Foundation, Community Chest, Greystone Hospital, Babies' Hospital, Children's Aid and Adoption Society, Easter Seals, Camp Merry Heart, North Jersey Training School, Lydia Hayes Foundation, The Montville
Township Library, adopting a Native American boy and sending a
student to Girls Career Institute.

Our members saved the "Old Barn' from being demolished and put it to good use. In 1974, Montville Township acquired 80 acres of centrally located property and a dairy farm with three barn structures. Newspaper articles read: "Women's Club spearheads Community Center Drive," "women want barn used," and finally, "Montville barn transformed." The dedication was in January 1975 due to the continued and constant involvement of Club women who
cared; today, a beautifully restored barn is being used for blood
testing, a diabetic and baby clinic, blood pressure and hypertension
testing, and other activities benefiting the community. All in all, it
was a tremendous undertaking. We have accomplished much and
grown in many ways.


The Montville Township Womens Club started the Community Garden Center; organized the Senior Citizen Club; donated an organ with choir robes and a stereo tape recorder to the high school; gave a phono cardio scan machine to the grade school, and entered a winning float in the Bicentennial Parade.


The Woman's Club of Montville Township is proud to belong to the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs. The NJSFWC is the largest volunteer women's service organization in the state and a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, an international organization. NJSFWC has just celebrated our 128th Anniversary this past November 2022, and we count the founding of Douglass College in 1918 as one of our proudest accomplishments. For more than 70 years, we've sponsored Girls Career Institute, providing a 3-day mini college experience for over 185 high school junior girls each June. In 2023, we will have been in existence for 120 years.


Today, some of our current projects and interests include:



  • The Community Food PantryThe Firemen's Home, Veterans Associations.
  • Women's Shelters
  • Breast Cancer Victims
  • We have provided two scholarships yearly to Graduates of Montville Township High School. 
  • Members have collected over 1200 pairs of slightly used and new shoes to be delivered to 'Soles4Souls', an organization that distributes shoes to victims of social and environmental catastrophes.
  • Members have collected bras to be sent to third world countries.
  • Soda tabs that are sold and the money collected is sent to Ronald McDonald House for families of children with cancer.
  • We have sent a yearly donation of 'Smile Bags' to Operation Smile for youngsters who are victims of cleft lip and palate and will be receiving life-changing surgery to correct their condition.
  • Members collect eveglasses to be donated to the Lions.
  • Members were offered "Vial of Life" forms to create a repository of information regarding medical conditions and medications for individuals living alone in case of emergency.
  • We collected over 80 evening gowns and costume jewelry for wives of servicemen.
  • Members create twenty Christmas Stockings yearly which contain a variety of toiletries and basic necessities for Service Men/Women who are currently serving around the world.
  • Members have been Readers in our local Township Schools for Dr. Seuss day.
  • We have been hostesses for our yearly Township Tree Lighting ceremony, providing hot chocolate and cookies for families.
  • Our members have participated and donated to "Relay for Life".
  • We sponsor the early town-wide Garage Sale.
  • We participate in October's Montville Day.
  • We sponsor an annual Blood Drive.
  • We complete four Road Clean-Ups with members each year. 
  • We have donated $3,000 to the purchase of a hydraulic lift for the First Aid Squad.
  • We learned about the organization known as "Roots & Wings" that supports youth who are newly adjudicated from foster care and made a donation to their efforts.

Today, the Montville Township Women's Club goal is to enhance the quality of life within our respective communities and state by transforming public interests and concerns into meaningful projects and programs; to afford our members opportunities for the development of individual skills, talents, and abilities, and to serve as a grassroots volunteer resource in New Jersey communities.