ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — There’s an old story about a wise woman who made “stone soup.”

Her community was hungry, and when she started simmering a stone in water, someone suggested that a bunch of carrots in the “soup” would be just the thing. Then, someone came with a bit of meat. Others came with small amounts of vegetables and herbs, and before you knew it, the entire hungry village had a delicious, nutritious soup to enjoy.

And it was all due to one wise woman and her “stone soup.”

That’s the sort of thing Irene Meehan had in mind when she founded “Impact 100” of Baldwin County. The group meets in Robertsdale and other locations throughout Baldwin County. The charity the group selects must be located in Baldwin County.

“This had started in Cincinnati,” said Meehan. “The idea is that if you get 100 women together and they each donate $1,000, then a great deal can be done in the community.”

Meehan was quick to point out that if 100 women do not join the organization, which draws from all of Baldwin county, then the grant to a worthy charity would be less.

While a women’s group, men are not left out. They may donate in the name of a woman they wish to honor or sponsor an employee, but do not have a vote in the organization. Businesses are welcome to donate on the same basis.

Meehan had seen the work the “Impact 100” group in Pensacola and other areas had done and itched to get a group started in this area.

She got her chance last year when she and a group of like-minded women got together. Meehan found herself not only the board president, but everything from the review committees to the new group’s policy and procedures had to be set up.

The culmination of last year’s work came when Mary’s Shelter in Elberta earned an $82,000 grant from the group.

According to the shelter’s Web site, the shelter provides “residential care in a supportive environment for pregnant women who lack suitable housing or favorable familial relationships. The home is available to new mothers, whether their decision is adoption or they choose to parent.“

The grant will be dispensed over two years, with members of the Impact 100 group checking regular progress reports to be sure the grant is being spent wisely.

The process is beginning again this year with a recruiting drive for new members. To join the group, head to the group’s Web site, impact100baldwincounty.org and download an application, which must be mailed by April 1. If there are any questions, call Meehan at (251) 990-2457.

There will be several training sessions for community groups looking for an Impact 100 grant. Again, it’s best to consult the Web site for information or contact Meehan for details. While not all the groups vying for a grant will get it, the education they receive about the grant-writing process is invaluable, Meehan believes.

“Our grants are broken into five groups,” explained Meehan. “The groups are broken into arts and culture, education, health and wellness, family, and environment, preservation and recreation.”

Meehan explained that the Impact 100 group then breaks into focus groups that evaluate the grant applications and makes site visits. The grants are then ranked and the group as a whole votes on which group gets the grant. All of the $1,000 membership contributions collected go to the grant. Funds for operating expenses must be raised in another manner.

“Members can be as active as they like,” said Meehan explaining that members may serve on a focus group or not as they prefer. The five top-ranked groups will make short presentations before the entire group before it votes at its annual meeting in November. The group with the most votes gets the grant.

“The only obligation they have is to vote on the finalists,” said Meehan.

Membership applications are available online at www.impact100baldwincounty.org. They may be requested by mail at Impact 100 Baldwin County, P.O. Drawer 1903, Fairhope, AL 36533. For more information about the organization, call Irene Meehan at (251) 990-2457.