The Purpose of the Women’s Guild is to bring together women of the Big Canoe community to encourage Christian fellowship, to understand God’s will for our lives through Bible Study, and to promote activities that benefit the Big Canoe Chapel in the surrounding areas.

The Big Canoe Chapel Women’s Guild has many committees to strengthen this purpose.  The Benevolence Committee is one of those committees.  It receives and presents applications to the Guild Board as requested by non-profit charities in Pickens and Dawson Counties.  Each spring, funds are raised from the profits of the annual Tour of Homes to determine how much money is available to distribute to these charities throughout the following year.

During summer months, when the Guild is not in session, no charitable giving will be provided unless the Big Canoe Chapel Benevolence Committee makes an emergency request to the Guild Board.  At that time the Benevolence Chairman will contact the Guild President and Treasurer for an immediate decision.Applications for Funds.

Through applications received from area non-profit charitable organizations, the Guild Board determines how much money will be given on a case-by-case basis according to the strength of the charitable organization, the financial need, the amount needed and the availability of Guild funds. The amount given may not be the amount requested.

The application will be approved or disapproved in order of receipt by the Guild Board at its monthly meeting.  After discussion, a Guild Board vote is taken and if the majority of the Board approves, the request is then passed to the Guild at its regular meeting for a final vote.

Dispersing funds to an individual or for scholarship awards is not a function of the Guild but of the Big Canoe Chapel Benevolence Committee. Only at the request of the Big Canoe Chapel Benevolence and/or Scholarship Committee does the Guild become involved in an emergency situation or in a “special” individual or scholarship case.  Exception: It is the practice of the Guild to present a Bible to each Big Canoe Chapel scholarship recipient.

Please contact Polly Mills, Benevolence Chair, at (706) 579-1849, if you have any questions or would like to request an application.