Suitcase and Toiletry Collection – November 1 to November 30, 2026
We’re Collecting for Local Women in Need!
The AWCZ has a long history of supporting the clients of local charity FIZ (Fachstelle Frauenhandel und Frauenimmigration). FIZ operates seven safe houses in Zurich and provides support, counseling, and advocacy for over 400 victims of human trafficking each year. We are collecting suitcases and toiletries for the safe houses throughout the month of November. For more info on FIZ, visit www.fiz-info.ch.
New Unopened Toiletries
We will be collecting NEW, UNOPENED toiletries for the women in the shelters. When clients arrive, let’s welcome them by ensuring their basic toiletry needs are covered.
Please drop your shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, shower gel, tooth brush, toothpaste, razors, sanitary napkins or tampons in the box at the Clubhouse by November 30.
NO MAKE-UP OR PERFUME AND ONLY NEW UNOPENED ITEMS!
Suitcases
The suitcases come in handy when the women are ready to leave the shelters.
Drop Off Location
AWCZ Clubhouse, Höschgasse 38, 8008 Zurich
Test your luck in the PhASE Charity Raffle, with all proceeds going to Cancer Support Switzerland. We have the Thanksgiving essentials, a Mediterranean feast and pampering by Estée Lauder. The draw will be after the Christmas Market on November 15, 2026. Tickets are CHF 2 each or 6 for CHF 10. Contact Karen or Reanna for your tickets.
There are four baskets in all:
The large Thanksgiving basket includes the following: Crispy Onions, Stove Top stuffing, Worcestershire Sauce, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Tabasco Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Cranberry Sauce, Gravy granules, Old Bay Seasoning, Pumpkin Puree x 2, Condensed Milk, Pumpkin Spice, Pecans, Pumpkin Pie spice, Choc Chips, Marshmallows, Light Brown Sugar, Evaporated Milk, Dip mix, Prosecco, Napkins and Games.
The small Thanksgiving basket includes the following: Stove Top Stuffing, Turkey Gravy, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Cranberry Sauce, Old Bay Seasoning, Dark Brown Sugar, Pumpkin Puree, Pecans, Onion Dip Mix and Napkins.
The Mediterranean basket includes the following: Italy – red wine, Taralli, Pesto ; France – Rosé; Tunisia – Harissa; Greece – Olive oil, Turkish Delight, Olives, Dalmades, Sweet biscuits; and Malta – Sea Salt, Prickly Pear syrup, nougat and jam, and Tomato Spread.
The Estée Lauder basket, which includes brands such as Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Mac, Aveda, Olivia and Estée Lauder, includes: Skin/hair - make up remover, moisturiser, body lotion, hand cream, shampoo & conditioner, hair lotion; and Make up - lip & cheek gloss, lip pencil, SPF10 foundation, eyeshadow, mascara Plus a small travel bag.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the AWCZ Business Directory. The motivation for the Business Directory came from our members constantly asking each other for and sharing recommendations of businesses and services and just about everything in and around Zurich.
Registration for the Business Directory was first opened to our members, and we received a resounding response! Now in August, we are offering for non-members to join with a rate of CHF 75. After 31 August 2026, the non-member rate will rise to CHF 175 for a one year subscription to the Business Directory. A listing in the Business Directory can help increase the visibility of and expand the digital presence of businesses, making it easier for new customers to find them. Sound good? Get in touch with us and take advantage of our special early bird offer before the rates rise on September 1. https://awczurich.org/Join-the-Business-Directory
Take a look at the Business Directory and discover a new, local business today!
Dear AWCZ Community,
As summer is drawing near, we have a special announcement regarding the Clubhouse activities during July and August. Book Club (Daytime): The Book Club (Daytime) is off in July and August. Bridge: Bridge continues throughout the year, every Monday and Thursday from 13.30 – 16.30. Beginner Bridge: There are no Beginner Bridge classes in July or August. Beginner Bridge Lessons will run from September 8 – November 24. Click here for further details.
Coffee Morning: There will be a break in July and August. Coffee mornings will resume in September.
Core and More: Core and More will be on in July and August. Please double check with the WhatsApp group. Crafternoon: There will be no sessions in July and August. Evening Wine & Cheese & Book Club: There will be a break in August. Everyday Gourmet: There will be a break in July and August. Everyday Gourmet resumes in September.
FirstFridays!: There will be a break in July and August.
Library: From July 8 to August 12, 2026, the library is operating under summer schedule. It is open only on Wednesdays from 10.00 - 14.00. The regular schedule will begin again on August 19, 2026. Mah Jong: Mah Jong will be on in July & August but please join WhatsApp group to see if games go ahead. Contact Karen at mahjong@awczurich.org.
Evening Mah Jong: Evening Mah Jong will be on in July & August but please join WhatsApp group to see if games go ahead. Contact Liz or Susan C. at mahjong-evening@awczurich.org.
Yoga: Check the AWCZ calendar for Yoga dates.
Stitchin’ witches: Stitchin’ Witches continues in July and August on every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Please check the WhatsApp group to confirm that it is taking place. Weekly Walking Groups (Clubs in Motion): The walking groups continue through out the summer. Please check the WhatsApp group for possible changes. For all other regular activities and events throughout the summer, check our website.
Best Regards,
AWCZ Communications Team
We have all heard about the tragedy in Crans-Montana, the fire and the victims of the fire. Many of the burn victims are being treated in a hospital near the AWCZ, the Zurich Kinderspital (children’s hospital).
The AWCZ would like to support the Kinderspital and the victims of the fire in the following ways:
Provide Heart Cards (hand-written cards) to
The Heart Cards will be collected in a box in the Clubhouse. Please do not seal these cards.
Donations to Kinderspital, which can be made in several ways
American Women's Club of Zurich - PAYMENTS
Crans-Montana: Das Kinderspital Zürich hat mehrere Patientinnen und Patienten aufgenommen | Kinderspital Zürich
For more info contact: phase@awczurich.org.
The AWCZ has a long history of supporting the clients of local charity FIZ (Fachstelle Frauenhandel und Frauenimmigration). FIZ operates 7 safe houses in Zurich and provides support, counseling, and advocacy for over 400 victims of human trafficking each year. We are collecting toiletries for the safe houses throughout the month of November. For more info on FIZ, visit www.fiz-info.ch.
We will be collecting NEW UNOPENED toiletries for the women in the shelters run by local charity FIZ. When clients arrive, let’s welcome them by ensuring their basic toiletry needs are covered. FIZ operates six shelters for 400 women in our area. Please drop your shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, shower gel, tooth brush, toothpaste, razors, sanitary napkins or tampons in the box at the Clubhouse by November 30. NO MAKE-UP OR PERFUME AND ONLY NEW UNOPENED ITEMS please. PS: To ensure a smooth drop-off experience, we kindly request that you check our calendar for the AWCZ Clubhouse's availability. Please take a moment to verify that someone will be present to open the door when you plan to drop off your donations. Your thoughtfulness will help us make the most of your generous donation!
For questions, please contact Karen Spink.
We have received a few emails from authors who have been contacted by a “Grace Caldwell” of “the American Woman’s Club of Zurich.”
“Grace” uses the email address clubofzurichamericanwomens@gmail.com and she is not affiliated with us in any way. This is a scam, targeting authors.
“Grace Caldwell” invites authors to be spotlighted. If you reply, after a few emails, “Grace” asks you to send money.
We have reported this behavior to internal contacts at Google.
Our board members and leaders are listed on the "Our Board" page. If you are contacted by an individual or organization with a different name and they ask you for money while they are pretending to be us, please do not engage with them or "Grace" and report them to:
https://support.google.com/mail/contact/abuse
As summer is drawing near, we have a special announcement regarding the clubhouse activities during July and August. Book Club (Daytime): The Book Club (Daytime) is off in August. Bridge: Bridge continues throughout the year every Monday and Thursday from 13.30 -16.30. Beginner Bridge: There are no Beginner Bridge classes in July or August. Beginner Bridge Lessons will run from September 15- November 24. Click here for further details. Coffee Mornings: There will be a break in July and August - Coffee mornings will resume in September. Core and More: Core and More activities will take a break in July and part of August, classes will continue on Aug 21, 2025. Crafternoon: There will be no sessions in July and August. Evening Wine & Cheese & Book Club: There will be a break in August. Everyday Gourmet: There will be a break in July and August. Everyday Gourmet resumes in September. FirstFridays!: There will be a break in July and August.
Library: From July 9 to August 13, 2025, the library is operating under summer schedule. It is open only on Wednesdays from 10.00 - 14.00. Regular schedule returns on August 21, 2024. Mah Jong: Mah Jong will be on in July & August but please join WhatsApp group to see if games go ahead. please contact Karen mahjong@awczurich.org. Yoga: Check the AWCZ calendar for Yoga dates. Stitchin’ witches: Stitchin’ Witches continues in July and August on every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Please check the WhatsApp group to confirm that it is taking place. Weekly Walking Groups (Clubs in Motion): The walking groups continue through out the summer. Please check the WhatsApp group for possible changes. Writers Group Please contact the writers group for summer activities: writersgroup@awczurich.org. For all other regular activities and events throughout the summer, check our website.
Since September 2024, the Club-sponsored charity has been Cancer Support Switzerland (CASS). As the name suggests, CASS is a support services organization that offers counselling, activities, and regular meet-ups for the English-speaking community affected by cancer. This includes those undergoing treatment as well as their family members and friends. Services range from individual counselling (including end-of-life support) to drop-ins, social gatherings, exercise classes, nutrition advice, and access to an extensive lending library.
CASS was founded in Geneva 25 years ago by American William Faulkner, who sought support after his cancer diagnosis but found language to be a barrier. Unable to participate in French-language support groups, he started what would become a thriving community for English speakers affected by cancer. Today, CASS has a small team of paid staff and around 100 dedicated volunteers, all working to support those navigating the challenges of cancer. Zoom consultations during Covid highlighted the needs outside of Geneva, and Zurich now has two counsellors, a dedicated manager to develop local services and partnerships, and a growing number of enthusiastic volunteers. We hope one day to see the Zurich branch of CASS have similar facilities to those in Geneva.
Where possible, the Club-sponsored charity should enable Club members to participate directly. Since October 2024, PhASE held several fundraising events and raffles, including the very successful Trivia Night in March. In May, the Steps for Cancer Support fitness challenge was held and two teams with many AWCZ members participated in Zurich. The Club’s walking group participated in the CASS Steps kick off walk and some members attended the community awareness walk and celebration dinner.
Coming up in Autumn, PhASE is planning: a How to Bake Scones class (September 21); a Curry Cook off (September 28); a Brownie Bake-off (October 24); and a table at the annual Christmas market. Please contact phase@awczurich.org if you’d like to participate in volunteering for these events that will directly support English speakers affected by cancer across Switzerland.
Karen Spink and Rachel Thibodeaux
Looking for fun and engaging activities for your little ones this spring? The Kids Corner at the American Women's Club Zurich has an exciting lineup of events for March and April! From coffee meetups and movie nights to Easter celebrations and toddler playgroups, there's something for everyone. ️ March 28 – Tween Movie Night at the Clubhouse April 6 – Easter Party fun! April 7 – Park Meetup at GZ Riesbach April 11 – Story & Craft session at the Library April 14 – Toddler Playgroup at the Clubhouse Save the date! May 15 - Mom's Night Out.
For more information, join the Kids Corner WhatsApp Chat or email kidscorner@awczurich.org
Our mission is to foster social exchange and support within the English-speaking community of Zurich and to help our members feel at home in this beautiful city.
Höschgasse 38, 8008 Zürich
+41 44 240 4455
