Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire
The Abegweit Chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE) was one of the first local groups to mobilize its efforts for war work. The first major project was participation in the national IODE effort to raise money to buy a Bolingbroke bomber airplane. The group sent $335 to Toronto after collecting and selling old gold and silver pieces in the summer of 1940. In the fall of that year they sold scrap lumber from the airport construction. At their November meeting, a letter from Commanding Officer C.A.R. Lawrence at the Airport thanked them for the games and equipment that had been sent out to the recreation room. The airport was not open, but staff had begun to arrive. The group followed up this initial goodwill gesture with the donation of a piano that was secured through the efforts of member Carrie Holman.
A Convenor of War Work was appointed in 1939 in the person of Miss Wanda Wyatt. She was a dedicated worker and oversaw many projects during her time as Convenor. Between 1940 and 1945, an average of 15 women met every Friday at members' homes to knit items for servicemen. The wool and sewing materials were stored in an IODE room at the Courthouse. Barrels were packed with goods for shipment. Sometimes boxes were wrapped and sent from the Wyatt house, with assistance from visiting airmen.
The work of supplying "comfort service bags" to men overseas was supplemented with the provision of needed goods for civilians in war-torn areas. Clothing was sent for British children and Polish refugees. Useful items like soap and face cloths were purchased from local stores to pack bags for shipment overseas. Gifts were sent to crewmen of the chapter's anonymous adopted ship "Q091." 
To support these projects, the local chapter raised funds by conducting an annual "Tag Day" in November. It also held rummage sales, bridge parties, a strawberry festival, and sold candy during the intermission of "Gone With the Wind."
The Abegweit Chapter took a special interest in providing books and magazines for the RCAF Station. A "Book Tea" was held on three occasions as a way to secure used books. There were many references at the monthly meetings to the work of gathering reading material for the Air Force personnel. For instance in January 1945, Miss Wyatt reported that 24 magazines and 23 books had been sent to the airport the previous month. In early 1945 the local group also participated in a national book drive to send books overseas as a way of "boosting morale."
The IODE also provided support to other service clubs in Summerside. Members worked in conjunction with the Board of Trade and the Y's Men's Club to hold a civic welcoming reception for the No. 9 School in April 1941. When the School closed in July 1942 they provided refreshments for the farewell reception for SFTS officers and wives. Some members visited the "At Home" hosted by the Women's Division at the Station in July 1943 and attended the opening of the club room for the airmen's wives, the Contact Club, in August 1943.
