A Day Women Look Forward to All Year

Let me introduce myself — I’m Gena, and for the past three years, I’ve volunteered with the Beat the Heat Women’s Retreat, a free one‑day event created to give women in our small tourist community something they rarely get: a day just for them.

When our guests arrive, you can see it in their eyes — some are tired, worn down, or carrying a weight on their shoulders, and many are simply ready for a moment to breathe. By the end of the day, they leave smiling, lighter, and reminded that they matter.

This retreat began in 2020 when Renae Selfridge started a Bible study group and noticed something important: many of the women around her were volunteers themselves. They were constantly giving their time at church, at community events, and anywhere help was needed. One day she asked herself, “Who gives these women a day to rest?”

That question became the heart of our retreat.

And although it was born from a Bible study group of Christian women, this is not a religious event and not church‑sponsored. Every woman — every race, every background, every belief — is welcomed with open arms, as long as she is 16 or older.

Each year, we provide everything:

All meals, drinks, and treats

Every supply needed for the craft project of the year

A movie in the middle of the day with popcorn, candy, and drinks

A complimentary gift bag for every guest

A chance to win one of our big gift baskets valued at $100–$500

For some of the women who attend, this retreat is the only event all year they could ever participate in — financially, emotionally, or otherwise.

This is a day we want them to remember for a lifetime.

Two years ago, we outgrew our space and were blessed with the use of a local church’s gymnasium, which allows us to host over 100 women comfortably. But with growth comes cost — and we can no longer sustain this retreat out of our own pockets.

That’s why I’ve stepped into a new role: helping grow the retreat financially so we can keep it free for every woman who needs it.

If you’d like to help us continue this mission of rest, renewal, and connection, we’ve created a GoFundMe to support this year’s retreat. We are all volunteers, so 100% of donations go directly into making this day possible.

Thank you for caring about the women in our community. Your support truly makes a difference.