Waverly P.E.O. flag project benefits educational opportunities for women | Waverly Newspapers

On Memorial Day weekend, one of Waverly’s chapters of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) will begin the seventh year of its Flags for U.S. fundraiser.

The project beautifies local neighborhoods during five patriotic holidays and helps the local Chapter ML provide educational scholarships and grants for women. ML is one of three Waverly chapters of P.E.O., an international women’s organization founded and headquartered in Iowa with chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

For $35 a year, residents within the Waverly city limits can subscribe to the flag service. The chapter works with One Call, Waverly Utilities and Mediacom to determine the best location for an in-ground flag receptacle and installs the receptacle.

Teams of P.E.O. members put up a flag in each subscriber’s yard for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day and pick up the flag after the holiday.

The project began in 2017 under the leadership of P.E.O. member Emily McClimon, who had been involved with a similar endeavor in her hometown. Through 2022, Flags for U.S. has realized a total profit after expenses of more than $35,500. Expenses include purchase of flags, poles, receptacles and other supplies. After delivery teams sometimes struggled to find receptacles as grass grew thicker over the summer, the chapter purchased metal detectors last year to make the process easier.

In 2022, ML was the top fundraising chapter in Iowa, according to treasurer Mary Beth Zelle. She noted that the flag project along with some additional fundraising efforts have allowed the chapter to donate more than $52,300 to P.E.O. scholarship and grant funds over the past six years. Those contributions help perpetuate P.E.O. educational opportunities.

Over the past 10 years, Chapter ML has awarded $108,000 in grants and scholarships received through P.E.O., said JoAn Headington, the chapter’s longtime scholarship chair.

The three recipients for the 2022-23 academic year included Hannah Kramer, who graduated from Allen College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and received a $5,000 grant. Two Wartburg College students who will graduate in May and plan to become elementary school teachers were awarded P.E.O. grants to help cover their student teaching expenses: Anika Perry, $5,000, and Michaela Delhi, $1,500.

Residents within the Waverly city limits can still subscribe or renew their subscription to this year’s flag project. Because of the time involved in installing a receptacle, new subscribers may miss the Memorial Day delivery. To subscribe, send a $35 check along with name, address and phone number to P.E.O. Chapter ML, PO Box 33, Waverly, IA 50677 or call Emily McClimon at 563-581-5043.