Notably, the club has donated thousands of dollars of feminine supplies to food pantries in Essex and Franklin counties since April of 2020.

“Over the last year, the club has donated over 12,000 tampons and maxi-pads to communities stretching from Tupper Lake to Minerva to Ticonderoga and every place in between, said club President Nicole Bureau. “Because menstrual supplies cannot be purchased with public assistance monies, covering this basic hygiene need for women who otherwise may not be able to afford purchasing them is vital to their dignity.”

During February, Zonta ADK proudly partnered with the Adirondack Medical Center to bring awareness to Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month by providing orange LED bulbs to light up the entrance sign at the Adirondack Health hospital facility in Saranac Lake. One in three teenagers in the U.S. experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in a relationship before they become adults. In all, 43% of college women report being subjected to abusive dating behaviors. Both the Zonta Club of the Adirondacks and Adirondack Health believe that every young person is deserving of a healthy, loving relationship.

Zonta ADK is also soliciting applications from area public and private high schools for its 2021 scholarship opportunities: the Zonta International District 2 Jean M. Coon Humanitarian Award and the Young Women in Public Affairs Award.

The Zonta International District 2 Jean M. Coon Humanitarian Award is given for outstanding community service. Academic achievement is not a factor in selecting a winner. Applicants must be a young woman in grades 11 or 12. A Book Award and a check for $250 will be presented to the winning candidate by the Zonta Club of the Adirondacks in the spring of this year. The local winner’s application is then sent on to the Zonta International District 2 Jean M. Coon Humanitarian Award committee to be considered for the $500 District Award which is announced in June of each year.

The Young Woman in Public Affairs award will go to a young woman aged 16-19 who is committed to volunteerism and experienced in leadership. The Zonta Club of the Adirondacks’ winner for this category will also receive a Book Award, as well as check for $250 in the spring. The winner of the local club award will automatically be nominated as one of about 20 young women eligible to win the $1,000 award at the district level later in 2021. The district award winner then advances in eligibility to possibly be one of 10 Zonta International scholarship winners who is awarded a $4,000 scholarship.

All applications must be received not later than March 24.

The Young Women in Public Affairs application may be found on our website, www.zontaadk.org, under the Financial Awards tab.

The Jean M. Coon Humanitarian Award application may be found on the Zonta District website, www.zontadistrict2.org, under the District Awards tab.

All applications, and any associated attachments/recommendations for both awards MUST be sent directly by the applicant or individual making the recommendation via email to zontaadkscholarships@gmail.com. High school guidance department should not submit the applications on behalf of applicants, and the club not be accepting applications by mail this year. Any questions can be sent to zontaadkscholarships@gmail.com.

The Zonta Club of the Adirondacks is a registered 501[c][3]charitable organization with the mission of advancing gender equality.

For more information, visit: www.zontaadk.org or email adirondacks@zontadistrict2.org. Those interested in membership are invited to attend a monthly Zoom meeting as a guest.

(Amy Quinn, of Lake Placid, is a founding member of the Zonta Club of the Adirondacks.)