STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Papoose Club is holding an Open House Social for members of the public to become acquainted with the organization.

The social will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at Ketchum’s Limelight Hotel.

The Papoose Club is one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in the Wood River Valley, having been founded in 1954.

It originated with a group of Moms who took turns babysitting one another’s children so the others could go skiing. And it evolved into an organization raising funds for various groups and endeavors supporting valley youth.

The organization raises money through its annual Wagon Days pancake breakfast and plant sales at Webb Nursery.

And it stages the annual Kindercup and Nordic Cup races, which have become a rite of passage for youngsters, including some like Picabo Street who went on to become Olympic competitors.

Monday’s open house social will include an abbreviated meeting with one grant request so guests can see how members determine which projects to award money to. But the main focus will be on socializing and giving guests an opportunity to ask questions, said Louise Isaacs, publicist for the club.