Category «Community»

Be a Santa to a Senior – Strangers giving to strangers

Timaru Club spotted this project from another District Fifteen Club and decided to do it in our area.
Residential Care facilities were approached for recipients who do not have family or friends around them at Christmas. They were asked what they would like within a reasonable dollar value and then those ‘wishes’ are forwarded to us.
A Christmas tree is set up in our local library with the ‘wishes’, the public take a wish, purchase the item/s and return to us unwrapped at a later date. Altrusa members gather to wrap and just before Christmas the gifts are delivered to the Care facilities. A common comment from recipients is often “why would anyone do this for me”

Cuddle Hearts

This was such a heartwarming project for us during 2022, knowing the need is for 3000 hearts annually in our wider region meaning 1000 of our little babies are vulnerable at birth and these hearts assist in bonding when real ‘cuddles’ are not possible.
Cuddle hearts strengthen the bond between mums and bubs while at the unit as many babies are unable to be cuddled. A set of 3 hearts are given to each newborn. The smells of both the baby and mother are absorbed into the heart and then swapped over.
It was by chance a member saw this need in our community so investigated further bringing an example of a cuddle heart to a meeting and so this project was born!
The hearts are made from 100% cotton fabric with no embellishments/filling and to a very specific size, the reason being is to prevent them being lost in bedding and hindering tubes etc attached to the baby.

Distraction Packs

Distraction Packs are donated to local emergency services. Police and Ambulance have the packs in their vehicles to give to children at the scene of an incident or accident to distract them while their parents are being interviewed or attended to. The feedback from the emergency services has been very positive.The packs contain coloring books coloured pencils, stickers and a book or toy. The items are put in a zip lock bag. We source coloring books with a story to help with literacy. We are using a sponsorship model for this project. Businesses and individuals have sponsored packs at a set value. We assemble as many packs as we have sponsorship for. This means we can use our fundraising for other projects.

Distraction Packs

Laundromat Library

After seeing seeing Laundromat Libraries on Altrusa club Facebook pages, we placed a bookshelf in our local 24 hour Laundromat. Each club member is on a roster to keep the shelf tidy and stocked with adult and children’s books and magazines . Books and magazines are donated. Book drops are publicized on Facebook. The community have embraced the book shelf and keep it well stocked and it turns over quickly. Apart from the initial outlay of paint for a donated bookshelf and member’s time this project has not cost anything. All books donated by club members are counted in the Million Books challenge. Because of the strong community uptake we are happily struggling to meet big numbers. We hope to build on this library idea but putting up a community free library near a local park.

Make a Difference Day for At Risk Youth

Each year the Sikeston club chooses a project for Make a Difference Day in October. This year it was decided to fund a project for the Missouri Department of Youth Services and serve underprivileged at risk youth. The club donated money to pay for a field trip to a recreational center, where the children attended a water safety course then enjoyed time in the pool. Afterwards, all the children were treated to ice cream before being returned to their home, foster home or group home. All the children who participated were selected because they had experienced abuse during their short lifetime. Altrusa is proud to be a positive influence in their lives and to show them that their community does care about them.

Making a Difference, honoring Veterans

Altrusa International of San Sebastián, PR Inc. celebrated the “Make a Difference Day” honoring Veterans from American League Post 51 Rodrigo Font. It was a very special day. We started with breakfast, getting acquainted with the veterans and spouses attending the event, and explaining to our veterans all the fun stuff planned for the day. We continued by driving to the local historic sites. Visiting museums, monuments and the Historic Archives Building. Here we were received by local Government Reps. that presented us with two (2) Government
Proclamations, formally declaring this day to honor Veterans from Post 51. The day concluded with a succulent lunch in a local restaurant, certificates of appreciation to all that helped in making the activity possible and gave gifts to all veterans. It was an inspiring day volunteering with veterans. We not only spent time with Vets, took them to places they had not visited before, but most importantly we listened to their stories, acknowledged their service, and got to know veterans from our hometown. Veterans from Post 51, were without any doubt, overwhelmed. they gave words of appreciation that touched us all. We should be aware that veterans are forgotten, and that sometimes even a small gesture can have a big impact. Altrusa actually went out there and did it for veterans– making their day, making them feel special, making a difference.

Kai Shed revamp

Through our local Morrinsville Facebook community page, we discovered that a lot of people didn’t know where the Kai Shed (community pantry) was. As a club we embarked on a project to give the shed a facelift, signage and better visibility on Face to increase the number of donations. Members painted the door a bright yellow and had signs made and installed. While undertaking the facelift we learned that people didnt like using the shed because of it’s unsafe position so we spoke to our local council. We are in the process of relocating it beside a playground that is well utilised, well lit and has safe parking. This project also meets the theme of our Govenor’s tenure “improving food insecurity in our community”.

Altrusa Athenaeum

You don’t normally associate hospital and reading room, but Altrusa did. They felt there was a need for a bookshelf and assorted reading materials for the ICU waiting room at the local hospital. So they created a reading area in the waiting room. Every month two Altrusans volunteer to stock the bookshelves with new books and magazines. They remove any worn out reading materials. For the many hours that families spend waiting in this room, they now have an alternative to mindless television programming and can maintain their literacy skills. This club addressed a little known need of the community in an effective and supportive manner.

World Literacy Day Partnership

Each year on World Literacy Day in September, the Sikeston club partners with the Sikeston Public Library. After consulting with the Director of the public library on a special theme book or topic about women, $50 is donated to purchase one or more books commemorating this UN Observance. This project not only supports literacy but also promotes Altrusa’s special relationship with the UN and its sustainable goals agenda.