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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith the right background, skills, and desire, Harwood aimed to characterize her life through service. She assisted others alongside her husband, a disabled veteran, celebrating 50 years of marriage together in 2025. Carolyn Kates Glass also became a key partner in reaching her goals as the two coordinated efforts with agencies to provide information and resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2023, Glass suggested starting an organization to empower vulnerable people often forgotten by communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That March, they began The Empowerment Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Developing the organization with Glass enhanced the ability to reach the community through providing workshops, resources, services, and collaborations with community partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professionals, retirees, widows, veterans, wives of veterans, and others now gather together to obtain information and resources to enhance their well-being and to enrich the lives of those in need. Participants learn about home ownership, paperwork to obtain benefits, weather, services, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They collaborate with others to distribute food to those in need, toys to children, and essentials to the unhoused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI always had a great desire to give back to our community. I had wonderful opportunities in my career to learn things and had the resources and information to share with others,\u201d Harwood said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mothers without transportation receive food for their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One homeless man found a home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Members delivered food daily to a terminally ill veteran until his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Help came to a grandmother facing the challenge of caring for her grandchildren after her daughter died homeless. Still dealing with such a traumatic event, the grandmother struggled to give the children the Christmas she wanted them to experience, so The Empowerment Group donated to make that Christmas more possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, they empower people to take control of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe look at what topics are needed in our community. We also look at projects that are needed in our community, like collecting warm items for The Warming Tree, giving things to Room In The Inn, and collecting toys for Toys for Tots,\u201d Harwood explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harwood\u2019s group meets at public places \u2014 such as the Bob Kirby Branch Library \u2014 once and sometimes twice a month. They also offer the community annual veteran lunches, resource fairs, and mental health events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe look within the community,\u201d Harwood said. \u201cPeople will reach out to us and say, \u2018I\u2019d like to come to one of your meetings,\u2019 especially if it\u2019s a subject that is of interest to them. That\u2019s one of the magical things about The Empowerment Group: You get to pick and choose what you want to be involved in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, members only need to offer simple acts of kindness, fellowship, or purpose, an elusive but essential ingredient to a fulfilled life. These acts can be passing out Christmas cards to the lonely at nursing homes. Even donations go a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In any way possible, Harwood welcomes everyone to join the mission of empowerment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those wishing to get involved with The Empowerment Group Making A Difference to change lives can visit the group\u2019s Facebook page, where activities are regularly posted. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WIDOWS, WIVES, veterans, and people with disabilities gather every month to help those falling between the cracks. During these educational workshops at the Bowling Green Library behind Greenwood High School, people discover the means to obtain a home. Others become equipped to navigate the legal system. More learn about weather dangers and scam warnings.\u00a0 Through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":26316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/bowling-green\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/04\/2-4-25_empowerment_group_parks007-1024x881.jpg\")
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