WAHCE, Inc. is a nonprofit, educational and charitable organization. Membership is open to all individuals without regard to race, sex, color, ethnic background, residence, or economic circumstances. Our objective is to provide educational programs for members and their communities that will meet current and future social, economic and environmental needs.The organization is unique in that the members extend the information they receive from the University of Wisconsin faculty and other reliable sources to the membership and the community.
HCE is a diverse group of adults who gather together to have fun and work hard while learning about new topics, learning about each other, and supporting the community through projects and events. Find out more about who we are and what we do!
WAHCE is an all-volunteer organization. Its success depends on the support and involvement of its members. Members are encouraged to:
- Share their talents and expertise.
- Share leadership responsibilities as a program leader or officer.
- Support fund raising projects.
- Assist with Community Outreach projects.
- Recruit new members.
How Do I Become A Member
Join a club — contact a board member to find a club near you.
Where and When do Clubs meet?
Some clubs meet in members’ homes while others meet in a public meeting place. The clubs usually meet once a month, from 6-12 times a year, at a time of day or evening most convenient.
Become an Individual Member or Member-at-Large
Members-at-large want the benefits of the organization, but cannot attend regular club meetings. Their work schedules may not coincide with local meeting times, or there may not be a club in their area.
Wisconsin Bookworms
Wisconsin Bookworms is a continuing outreach effort of Wisconsin Association for Home and Community Education (WAHCE) with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Division of Extension designed to provide free books to children who may not otherwise own books: the start of a lifelong love of reading. Reading to young children helps develop a love of reading, along with an enthusiasm for learning. Yet, children from families with limited incomes may not have the opportunity to own many books. The families of the young children become involved in reading to their children and doing family literacy activities with their children.
Stitches of Love
Stitches of Love, was brought to Walworth County by Eileen Guthrie in partnership with Walworth County UW-Extension and WAHCE. WAHCE made it a mission to HCE volunteers to make small quilts for patients living in Nursing Homes or Wheel Chair bound at home. The quilts provide comfort during treatment. Guthrie arranged a sewing meeting and 14 ladies attended the meeting and started sewing the quilts. The following year at state, the group was introduced to making turbans for cancer patients. Guthrie made a sample turban and brought it to the Log Cabin, during fair time, with a note saying, “we would like to start this project.” A woman from Illinois asked, “how much money would it take to start this project? I told her any amount would be helpful,” Guthrie responded. She sent the organization a check for $75.00. During this time, a dear member by the name of Nancy Cushman was suffering from cancer. Her HCE Club Hi Lo’s donated $100.00. The project now had funding. The only thing that was asked of the group was that the project be called Nancy’s Turbans, hence the name. The sewing group has since changed the name to Nancy’s Hats because all of the hospitals that gratefully received the turbans called them hats. Stitches of Love has been active for the past 25 years. The project has evolved and sewers now make quilts, hats, comfort pillows, walker caddies, drain pouches, portable high chair seats, and 100’s of Book Bags for the Book Worm project. Visit the group at the next sewing meeting that meets every month at Millard Church in Elkhorn.
Newsletters
– February 2024 Newsletter
Walworth County HCE Executive Board consists of:
Contact one of these board members for more information about Walworth County HCE.
- Eileen Guthrie and Jeanette Beard – Co-Presidents
- Audrey Wuttke – Treasurer
- Winnie Shelton – Secretary
- Eileen Guthrie – Education Program Coordinator
- Barb Papcke – Family & Community Life
or contact:
Amanda Kostman, Human Development & Relationships Educator
Extension Walworth County
100 W. Walworth Street, PO Box 1001
Elkhorn, WI 53121-1001
Phone: 262-741-4951
Return to County PagesUpdated 2/20/24