Altrusa International Service Projects
A database of Service projects from throughout our Altrusa organization
We donated four bookcases – two on the chemo floor and two to the radiation suites – to our local Cancer Center. Every month we go back to fill up the bookcases with more books and puzzles. There are leaflets telling people about Altrusa, with a QR code they can scan to our FB page. We also have signs telling them that they can “Read a book, Leave a book, Love a book, Keep a book”, as we want to encourage the sharing of the books throughout our community
As our S.O.S. Project, Boaz, Alabama contacted our local assisted living to see how many veterans were in residents there. We were told there were four, the club met and worked on the fleece tie throws and presented them to the men at their annual Veterans Day Program. The club members spent the afternoon visiting with the residents, sang and enjoyed refreshments in connection with their Veterans Day Program.
For our Make A Difference Day Project Boaz, Alabama choose to reenact the reading of Esop Fable
The lion and the mouse. The book was read by Pres. Elect Sue Gibson, The Lion was portrayed by President Suzanne Allred and safari hunters, Gail Hunt and Becky Edmondson. This program was presented to approx 300 kindergarten and 1st-grade students plus facility, staff, and cafeteria and maintenance staff.
the audience enjoyed the performance so well they begged for more, at which time Sue Gibson told the story of the Baby Big Mouth Frog. This was another hit by all with the teachers begging us to come by and do more next year.
The Nashville Altrusa Club is paying half of the sponsorship for Edina to attend school in Kenya. Her mother is very ill with AIDS and she would not be able to attend school without sponsorship. This is a 4 year commitment for us. She is sponsored through a program called Joint Hearts and Hands and it was brought to us by a member who knows the people that started that organization. Our 4 year commitment will cost a total of $1,000.00 for our club.
The “Who Am I” Essay contest was developed at the request of Mary Eleanor Cole’s daughter, Natalie, as a memorial to her mother, a member of Altrusa of 47 years.
Purpose of the essay was to be literacy-based, of benefit to disadvantaged youth, and of benefit to the community, built around a specific subject, grammar mastery, building self-respect, self-knowledge and expression. This contest coincided with Black History Month. The Essay Contest was designed as a character building exercise with a writing contest. All fifth-grade students of The Dufrocq School, an inner-city school, were eligible to participate in this literacy project that culminated in composing an essay entitled, “Who Am I”. The contest was developed to promote improving literacy levels by organizing thoughts into an essay, promoting life skills as well as academic.
One of the main hidden problems in disadvantaged neighborhoods is the prevalence of impulsive behaviors. Psychologists have shown that he ability to organize thoughts into a rational sequence and follow directions when necessary are essential to curbing the prevalence of impulsive behaviors.
The guidelines included criteria for content, presentation and deadlines. Working with the teachers our goal was accomplished.
Several times throughout the year we visit a nursing home where we have 3-5 ladies that don’t get much company. They either don’t have any family or that family is not living close by. At Christmas we always get them a gift and also have a bag of things like body lotion, kleenex etc. We have a cheeseball and crackers along with cookies and something festive to drink. Our other visits their favorite activity of trying on hats! We have members that bring hats (sometimes as many as 30) the ladies try on different ones and then we take their pictures. They really seem to enjoy this and we have done that several times. If no planned project, we just sit and talk (and eat) with them and they enjoy that also.
We pack bags with “necessary items” that these elderly people cannot purchase with food stamps. We pack 12 items including laundry soap, dish soap, body soap, toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towel, cleaning agent and deodorant.
Heifer International’s mission is to work with communities to help end world hunger and poverty. It works on the “Teach a man to fish” philosophy. Instead of just giving a handout, Heifer International brings sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. The animals they provide help families with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey that can be traded or sold at market. When many families gain this new sustainable income, it brings new opportunities for building schools, creating agricultural cooperatives, forming community savings and funding small businesses.
Each time you give a donation, you are able to purchase animals like goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and honeybees. There is also the ability to help empower women by giving donations earmarked for launching a small business, starting a self-help group, or sending a girl to school. Another choice for donations is purchasing sustainable items such as trees, clean water, stove for the village and irrigation pumps.
As a club you can “pass the cup” at each meeting for a year to collect change from each member. Another way to collect donations, like spare change, is to put jars at local businesses. At the end of the year, the club can choose the items they would like to purchase.
Heifer International accepts donations of any denomination.
https://www.heifer.org
There is a need in every county of the U.S. Everyday, children are being removed from their home, often at a moment’s notice to go into Foster Care. Most of these children leave their home with a trash bag of the few belongings they were able to grab. An excellent project for Altrusa (especially ones with crafty members) and Astra, is purchasing canvas bags and decorating them with pictures, nice sentiments, or quotes. These bags could then be given to your local County Department of Human Resources for a worker to bring to give to the child when they are removing him/her from their home. This project is very low cost and is very hands on for the members.
As another possible project involving your local DHR is to begin a clothes closet. These could be donated clothing, accessories, etc for all ages. This could benefit women struggling to find jobs by providing job interview appropriate attire. It can also benefit children in foster care by giving them clothing they may not be able to get otherwise. It may be possible to get out of season clothing and hanger donations from local clothing stores. This would also be very low cost and very hands on for members.
Contact your local DHR