Members of Soroptimist International St Albans and District would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful 2023. Instead of sending Christmas cards we are making a donation to the Soroptimist International President’s Appeal Opening Doors to a Brighter Future.
Soroptimists are feeling festive after delivering a magnificent pile of gifts donated and wrapped by Club Members for the SAHWR Women’s Refuge . Santa’s got a right sackful here! We know the women are thrilled at Christmas to know that we’re thinking about them and we hope it brings them a little bit of Christmas cheer and hope for a happy new 
year! Members have also donated a stash of tea, coffee, biscuits and toiletries. Liz Perry one of the Refuge managers says “there is no situation in the Refuge that can’t be improved by a sit down with a cup of tea”.
Our festive singing at St Albans City Station on 5 December raised a fabulous £626 for the SAHWR Women’s Refuge . Click here to see more pics and a short video sigbi.org/st-albans/carols22
Jean Eaton and her elves Madeline Skinner and Gill Clegg decorated a tree (pictured here) at St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans as part of the wonderful Christmas Tree Festival open to all from 16-22 December. This year the theme is “One World” and we have called our beautiful Soroptimist blue and gold decorated tree “One World, Where All Women are Equal”. Our tree is number 38 if you want to find it. The Christmas Tree Festival is meant to be held every 3 years, the last one was in 2017 and then COVID got in the way, so everyone is delighted to be able to take part again this year. Funds raised from the festival will go to local charities for the homeless – Centre 33 and Open Door. 
Please try to visit the festival if you can, it is truly magical when so many trees are all lit and decorated – we’re looking forward to 2025 already! Jean Eaton is pictured here 
with Jane Slatter on a follow up visit and there is also a photo showing more of the trees in a view up the South Aisle towards our tree.