Altrusa International Service Projects
A database of Service projects from throughout our Altrusa organization
This project was to enable pensioners in council assisted housing to receive a bag of Christmas themed groceries. The concept was to enable the Club to assist the more vulnerable elderly to have some Christmas treats at a time when they were probably trying to buy presents for family.
Supermarkets were approached for discounts, members made jams, biscuits and cake and the “Santa Sacks” were delivered prior to Christmas.
Local schools were asked to nominate children who had been working hard to improve their literacy skills. Each nominated child got to choose their prize, a book of their own and a special ceremony was held with a profile guest speaker and supper for the child and their family to celebrate their success.
Levin Altrusa members donated items for Children’s Activity Packs which were given to the local Family Harm unit of the Levin Police for distribution. The idea of these packs is to distract children while their caregiver is being interviewed, or statements being taken, by police. Items in the packs include colouring books, pencils or crayons, stickers, toys, etc. We also made drawstring bags so police can put items in the bags as appropriate to the age of the child.
Tauranga Living Without Violence Social Workers are provided with Distraction Packs For Kids when they are undertake an initial counselling assessment with women who have been referred to the Service having been the victims of abuse. The main objective is to provide a distraction for the child and to give them the colourful bags and their contents to take home, thereby having a positive experience for them. Bags are sewn by members and shopping is also done to get the best deal to ensure the budget is met but quality is maintained.
No 12 are going to use our donation to help with Literacy resources in English, Te Reo Maori and Samoan to help their students understand the meaning of the terminology used in Driver Training and the Road Code. eg what does the Give Way sign mean. All 16 year old students at Te Kuiti High School enroll with No 12 to do their driving training, which is in 3 parts, each one to be completed before advancing to the next stage. Adults are accepted for training also. As No 12 is dependent on funding, our cheque was gratefully received.
The Snug as a Bug project provides local charitable organisation, Kids in Need Waikato, with 20 draw string bags for foster children or children in care who have nothing.
The bags contain knitted beanies and slippers, underwear, socks, a blanket, a colouring book and pencils and a soft toy. Beanies, slippers and the bags have all been made by club members and retired members.
The project was created to provide warmth and a snug feeling for the children during winter. A need identified by a Public Health Nurse in our local community.
For our Make a Difference Day project this year we decided to support the Food Bank in Te Kuiti and donated NZD500.00. At our monthly meetings we donate goods for the Food Bank which is managed by the local Journey Church. Pastor Terry was very thrilled with our cheque which would be used to stock up on essentials and some cash kept for buying perishables as needed. 4 Altrusa members met with Terry and the local newspaper, Waitomo News, took a photo and published an article.
We donated a ‘Friendship Seat’ to a local kindergarten.
A Friendship Seat is a place where children who are lonely or sad can sit, in doing so alerting teachers and other pupils that there might be a problem. Children are taught in the school how special the seat is, and to look out for any student who is on it. It is hoped that children will approach the seat, and invite whoever is on it to play with them, or simply check if they are okay. The seat can be a key beginning to promoting friendship and kindness in youngsters and help build a sense of community.
Our club completed a cookathon for their local Bellyful Hamilton who provide meals to families with newborn babies, and families with young children who are struggling with illness. Altrusa donated pasta and pasta sauce, and helped to fill the freezers with 60 meals.