Every year since the start of the Amherst Woman's Club  in 1893 the woman have gathered together to help the local community in many ways. 

In the first ten years, club members addressed the need for a new High School building, a town library, a waiting room for trolleys and a District Nurse.  The club supported the women's Christian Temperance Union campaign against the liquor license, the carelessness of market men with reference to flies, and campaigned for at least one educational moving picture each week.

During the First World War, club members supported Christmas stockings for the War Children of Europe and collected a box of clothing weighing 375 pounds for the Belgian Relief Fund.

In 1924, the club supported a dental clinic for schoolchildren, collected funds for a nutrition class for underweight children and funded hot lunches for children remaining in school during the lunch period.  The club established a milk fund for schoolchildren and assisted at the annual Christmas party for Town children.

From 1932-1933, the club maintained an employment agency during the Depression.

In 1941, the club awarded its first scholarship of $50 for further study to an Amherst girl.  Over the years, the scholarship program has grown to award two $1,000 scholarships each year, available to both girls and boys.

In 1943, the Amherst Woman's Club opened its doors to the service men studying at Amherst College and Massachusetts State College.  The grounds of the clubhouse provided space for various games and the interior served as a place to dance, to write letters home or simply to sit quietly.

In 2022 a scholarship was awarded to an Amherst Regional High School graduate who attended Western New England University in Springfield. A grant was awarded to Family Outreach of Amherst who work towards providing shelter for women and children, family services, advocacy, crisis intervention, and more. A second grant was given to The Boys and Girls Club of Amherst who created after school programming for young people that was constructive, structured and safe for after-school activities. 

Today, the club raises $5,000 each year to fund local charities such as the Boys and Girls Club, Whole Children, Amherst Senior Center, Hospice Fisher Home, Soldier On, Amherst Community Connections, Amherst Survival Center, Safe Passage, Reader to Reader and the Renaissance Center in their efforts to meet the needs of the community.

 Grants and Scholarships

2023

This year the scholarship were awarded to two high school students attending Northeastern University and Suffolk University. 

The grants were awarded to Welcome Home Refugee Resettlement program to aide in resettling families. 

Family Outreach of Amherst to support families in our local area with opportunities for camps, trips to outside attractions, visits to museums and cultural events, and fun in the town’s pools.  Offering experiences and opportunities that would be otherwise unavailable to some families and keeping kids safe and happy during the school break.