Category «District Five»

Veterans bingo

We raise funds to give bingo prizes to the veterans each month so they can buy items
From the clothes closet that they need with the funds
We also purchase batteries for the veterans devices that are not covered by the va

Seedlings

Seedlings is a program that converts books into Brail for adults and children. We participate with their annual silent auction with a donation to donate 25 books to be converted to Brail.

Habitat for Humanity

We supply backpacks for every child 18 and under with school supplies and books. This is for every new house dedication for Habitat for Humanity Kent County, MI. We also participate in their festivals they hold for Habitat owners where we also hand out books to children and adults.

Leaves for Learning with Habitat

We have collected over 125 books in Spanish and English from Baker Books and they will be displayed at the 2 Habitat Restores marked for 1 book per child that comes in with a parent to shop at the Restore. The books range in reading ability from beginner to chapter books for older children or adults. The Service committee will be checking the crate of books every couple of weeks to replenish the supply. We have marked the books with a label that they are donated by Altrusa International Inc. of Grand Rapids, MI and Baker Books.

Tools For Schools

Tools For Schools is our longest running Community Service Project. We support Literacy in the Educational setting, by equipping students with the “tools” (school supplies), needed to enhance the learning process. Over the years, more than a million school supplies have been purchased for distribution, which include items such as: pencils, crayons, erasers, colored pencils, notebooks, rulers, glue, glue sticks, scissors and paper. To be able to purchase these items, Altrusa of Mansfield holds a major Fundraiser, supported by our Community, for this worthwhile cause. Goals reaching upwards of $35,000 are raised, to meet the ever-growing school supply needs of our area teachers and students. Our Tools For Schools Committee then purchases the school supplies, while Club members count, sort, stack and organize the shelves, located in a mini-warehouse setting. Letters are sent out to local schools, and teachers fax to us, their completed “Tools” request forms. Our “Filling Sessions”, involving many volunteer service hours, begins in early August and continues throughout the year as needs arise. Once an entire school order is filled, the schools are contacted to pick up orders or Club members make personal trips to the schools to make sure the supplies reach the teachers and into the hands of students. We have received many thank you letters from classroom teachers, stating their appreciation for releasing the financial burden, from having to purchase much needed supplies themselves. It was stated, “Altrusa of Mansfield is a blessing to my students, who without the “Tools for Schools Program”, would have had nothing to jump start them with their learning and onto a successful school year.’

Happy Feet

Happy Feet Service Project

Thirteen years ago, our club took action to create our “HAPPY FEET PROGRAM”. We provide shoes, boots, and socks to the needy children of Branch County. The program covers children ages 1-19 and families are not screened for financial need.

We promote health and wellness for those we serve by promoting healthy feet now and in the future, enhancing their learning when they are not experiencing painful or cold feet, and promoting their attendance because they have appropriate footwear during the winter months. Also, children can be healthier throughout the school year and the chances of being bullied in school are reduced.

This is an “all-volunteer” program carried out by an Altrusa Committee. A local businessman provides space for our inventory and his staff assists us with the distribution of orders. We provide close to 500 pairs of footwear each year. Through the years we have provided over 5000 pairs of footwear at a cost of just under $80,000.

We have developed brochures for use by the public and by social workers or those placing orders. We carry out an annual evaluation of this program.

We have also partnered with many in our community to receive grants, private donations, and discounts. We utilize local television and newspapers as well as our club and district newsletters to promote our program. We have received local, district and International awards.

This is a rewarding program for our club. With this program children do not attend school in tattered and torn footwear. They wear shoes that fit. Because of our commitment, children have “Happy Feet.” Our club is making a difference!

Altrusa Park Beautification Project

The Altrusa Park Beautification Project began as a Mamie L. Bass project in 1984. Janice Koss, a member of the club at the time, initiated the project. The purpose of the project was to beautify the Four Corners Park and attract people into the downtown. The Altrusa Park is located on the northwest corner and is maintained solely by Altrusa members. It contains several war memorials and monuments, and numerous community activities occur in the downtown park throughout the year. The monuments include the Veterans Memorial, Korean and Vietnam War Memorial, World War II Memorial, and a Flag Pole Memorial. Besides attracting people to the park, it also pays tribute to those who served in the armed forces.

The park is planted every spring by the Altrusa members with beautiful annual flowers. Altrusa members also weed and deadhead the flowers throughout the growing season. It is fertilized every two weeks to keep the flowers in full bloom. An underground sprinkling system is utilized to water the flowers automatically. The flower beds are cleaned up at the end of the growing season by Altrusa members as well. A sign is proudly displayed to reflect the flowers are maintained by Altrusa.

Many events occur in the downtown Four Corners Park throughout spring and summer drawing people from all over the area. Some of the events include Strawberry Fest, Entertainment Under the Stars, Farmers Markets on Saturdays, sidewalk sale days, Apple Fest, as well as parades for holidays.
These events bring people to Coldwater which helps downtown businesses, provides fresh produce and fruits for county residents, provides vendors an opportunity to sell arts and crafts, and provides social activities for participants. Altrusa Park is a wonderful event venue for the community and for visitors as well.

Days for Girls (Rockford South)

Since Days for Girls has been adopted the Grand Rapids club has embrassed this endeavour. We have volunteered with Days for Girls every chance we get and that was several times a month. We were meeting in the driveway of members to pin and cut fabric, we had members take home sewing projects as homework and we had 110 kits available when the call from Lebenon came that they needed help after the bombing. We again rallied our 15 members and friends and went to work with more cutting and sewing this fall at HOME because the weather changed and we could not work outside. We received notice in November that sanity kits were needed in Cuba, unfortunately we all our sewing and kits were not assembled and we were not able to participate, but when the call comes again we will be ready. Currently working on sewing and making at least 50 more kits. Each kit includes a sanitary pad (with 3 washable inserts), 4 washclothes, 4 underwear, and several small soaps.

Clothes Closet for Veterans Home

Each year we sponsor a drive to provide items of need for the Veterans Home where individuals without funds can request items from the clothes closet. After the drive for stockings, shirts and pants for both women and men, we provide funds to purchase the additional items that may be needed. i.e. electric toothbrushes, combs and body wash. Through this service project, we hope to make a difference for all the veterans in their daily lives that did so much for us.

Thanks(for)Giving to the Samaritan House

Lima’s Samaritan House has been serving homeless women and their children in Lima and Allen County since 1987. Lima’s Samaritan House is a supportive emergency shelter program designed to help women become self-sufficient. Their on-site services, along with several area social service agencies, assist each individual with housing, along with personal, educational and vocational goals. The members of Altrusa International of Lima, Ohio donated many items that help the agency provide for these women and children. Food, office, cleaning, and other types of supplies were collected and presented to the home as our Thanksgiving service project.