The Island Woman Reusable bag was conceived 11 years ago to raise money for the organization and to help reduce the single-use, plastic bags that litter the Island and harm the environment. The first bag committee worked with a marketing company to produce 5,000 bags and fulfilled its commitment to the sponsors who paid to be featured on the bag. That left 2,000 bags for Island Women to sell at the CB Farmers Market in 2014.
Now the bag is now Island Women’s major fundraiser. Bag sponsorship and sales generated more than $20,000 for local charities last year alone. And, Island Women has put more than 51,000 reusable bags into circulation.
“Slowly but surely, the bag took off, said Gail Smyth, the reusable bag committee's current chair and committee member for many years. This year her co-chair is Tammy Neeb. “The first couple of years it was tedious getting new sponsors on the bag. It got easier once businesses wanted to be on the bag. Now it’s a known entity.”
Bag production is managed by the committee and the bags are designed in-house by Island Women member Rhonda Lee. That’s no easy feat when you consider how much information she must include. While the Kure Beach Pier and Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill have supported the bag at the highest sponsorship level since its inception, most of the sponsors are from Carolina Beach. Sponsorship ranges from the $2,500 Islandchilada level for large logos to $100 for Friends and Family sponsors listed on one of the bag’s side panels. The bag also features artwork from kids at Carolina Beach Elementary School.
Much of the bag’s success is due to the committee’s year-long efforts. “Everyone thinks we only work a couple of months during the sponsor drive, but we work all the time,” Gail said. In fact, the committee is now planning next year’s bag, which will incorporate the 100th anniversary of Carolina Beach on one of the side panels. Rhonda will design the 2025 bag, and then pass the design baton to Island Women member Terri Bose.
Gail enjoys being part of a committee that works hard to support Island Women and its efforts. “We’ve heard businesses want to be on the 2025 bag because they think it’ll be a collector’s item,” Gail said. The committee hopes to raise even more money this year by encouraging sponsors to bump up to the next level. Kate’s Pancake House is a great example. It started at a lower-level sponsorship and now supports the bag at its highest level.
if you want to help the committee reach its goal, consider joining their efforts. And if you haven’t bought a reusable bag yet, buy one soon.
The Reusable Bag Committee
Gail Smyth and Tammy Neeb, Co-Chairs
Graphic Designers – Rhonda Lee (outgoing) and Terri Bose (incoming)
Sponsor Reps – Lois Berse, Martha Brown, Beth Carter, Eileen Clute, Carla Chestnut, Kathy Green, Jackie Heim, Vicki Jagger, Kitty McClellan and Susan Tennyson