Service Projects

Zontians are encouraged to complete at least 20 service hours per year.  We have a wide variety of opportunities in which members may participate, and more projects may be added through the year as the needs of the community arise.  Our current list of service opportunities include the following:

Safehouse for Women

We support the VintageNow Fashion show that raises funds for the Safehouse for Women.  This event is more than a fashion show: it’s a fun evening of fashion and empowerment.  This year’s event is Saturday October 21^st at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau.

Options for Women

The club assists with the annual Options for Women banquet and collects baby clothing and diapers as needed.

Community Counseling Center

This project involves painting at the Lou Masterson Center/Ridgeway Women’s Treatment facility.  We provide funds and labor for this project.

Cape Adult Education and Literacy Program

The club helps annually with the AEL graduation reception held at the Career and Technology Center.

SEMO University Foundation

Through the University Foundation, we provide a non-traditional female student with a $1,000 scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University.  This is based off of need and academic standing.

SEMO Walk for Women

This event raises funds for Southeast Missouri State University female athlete scholarships.  The SEMO Walk for Women takes our Zontians around campus and provides interaction with some of the athletes that receive the scholarships.

United Way of Southeast Missouri

 The Read to Succeed Program is a structured reading program for kindergarten and first grade students that develops basic reading skills.  Zontians are able to volunteer in our local schools to read to kids.

CTC-School of practical nursing

The club provides a $500 scholarship to a female student in the LPN Program at the Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center.  The scholarship is given based on need and understanding.

Care to Learn-Cape Public School Backpack program

As a club, we deliver backpacks with food items every Thursday to Clippard Elementary school throughout the academic year for kids who are in need to take home to their families.  Learn more about this program on the Care to Learn - Cape Girardeau Facebook page.

Crisis Aid International

We are providing funds and labor to renovate and redesign the Safe Home located in Saint Louis, MO.

Missouri Mentoring Partnership

The club will help with the back to school fair providing funding for books which is a part of the literacy program at Missouri Mentoring Partnership.

Jackson High School-MO Girl’s State

Girl’s State promotes pride in America and to create a mythical state that the citizens govern at the city, county and state level. We provide 3 scholarships for attendees from Jackson High School.

Saint Francis-Pink Up Cape

The club assists with the annual Pink Up Cape event which raises breast cancer awareness and provides free mammograms in Cape Girardeau.

Hope Children’s Home

We provide funds to the Hope For One More Children's Home in Jackson, MO.  We also help by cleaning up the home and grounds when needed.

Financial Literacy

We help different organizations, such as, the Family Counseling Center, by providing financial pamphlets and teaching pertaining to the pamphlets for an hour. We answer the ladies questions and bring candy to enhance our visit. We seek to encourage the women to focus on their finances regardless of where they are in life. Money is needed in every arena in this country and we desire for them to be financial literate by empowering them.

Haiti Project - Empowering Women through Education and Support

Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau recognized the importance of reaching beyond our borders to address the challenges of poverty, inequality and violence against women.  In 2011 our club began mission trips to Croix des Bouquet in Haiti.  Since then, we have made a tremendous impact on medical & dental health services, education, skill building, and support.  Learn more by clicking here.

Zonta International Service Projects

Zonta International not only advocates for women's human rights and gender equality in all facets of life, we also partner with UN agencies to financially support projects to empower women and girls to understand their rights and realize their full potential.

These projects are part of the International Service Program (ISP) and Zonta International Strategies to End Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) Program and are voted on at the International Convention every two years.

Zonta International Projects have focused on issues such as: