About
What is the Ministering Circle?
The Ministering Circle is a group of 50 nondenominational women working to support area health care projects in the Wilmington, North Carolina community.
There are not many organizations that can look back on a record bordering 125 years of continuous service to the health and welfare of their community, but such is the history of The Ministering Circle. Through several generations, this non-denominational group of 50 women has worked untiringly to attain its goal of serving mankind.
From a modest beginning in 1888, it has gradually, year by year, increased its scope in service. Looking over the records, one is amazed at the ingenuity displayed by members in the variety of activities in which they engaged to raise funds for their benevolent work in the community.
In 1890, our first project was a Wrightsville Beach Cottage for the care of sick children. In 1900, we turned our attention to James Walker Memorial Hospital. We purchased a horse for its ambulance, provided furnishings and linens for rooms and purchased the city's first x-ray machine.
Beginning in 1907, we funded the salary for a District Nurse, a role the County assumed in 1950. For over 50 years, we've provided prescription medicines to patients who couldn't afford them, a service now managed by MedSource (an organization we helped establish in 1996). Since 1950, we've also funded home help where the need is temporarily urgent. Between 1967 and 2010 we began funding ten scholarships to UNCW and Cape Fear Community College. In 2006, we started funding one scholarship each in radiography and sonography. As of late The Ministering Circle continues to give funds to other important local causes and projects such as the Health Department, The Harrelson Center, Alzheimer's NC, Bitty and Beau's, St. Mary's Dental Clinic and Childhood Development Center.
The Ministering Circle members raise funds to support these wonderful projects with our Annual Raffle Sale offering wonderful unique prizes and selling the The Ministering Circle cookbook "Favorite Recipes of the Lower Cape Fear". Funds are also derived from gifts, legacies, and memorials to loved ones by members, relatives, and interested friends.
To kindly support The Ministering Circle directly, donations or memorials can be sent to
The Ministering Circle
PO Box 3862
Wilmington, North Carolina
28406