Category «District One»

Read To Grow

“Read to Grow” is a project spearheaded by Senator Chris Murphy to get books into the hands of children in the Western part of the state who, because of Covid-19, do not have access to schools or libraries. Anne Rash, chair of our Literacy Committee, collected over $15,000 in grants and contributions to bring this program to the Willimantic/Windham CT. for children in this area. Books were purchased though “The Read to Grow” program. Our members sorted and bagged the books, and handed them out at lunch distribution centers. Each child received, along with their meal, a bag of 5 books in various genres and leveled reading ability. It has and continues to be a wonderful and safe way for children to be able to get books and read during this pandemic.

VIRTUAL Poetry Reading

We were so disappointed to cancel our 27th Annual Gerard F. Melito Senior Citizens’ Poetry Reception due to the Covid-19 crisis. Many enjoy the afternoon event where our poets come together and share their poems. Our local library has many programs to stay connected with the community. They run various VIRTUAL events throughout the summer. We brought our Altrusa Senior Poets and Russell Library’s Technical Team together, and hosted a VIRTUAL poetry reading!
The librarians managed the poets on a ZOOM call, and our presentation went via Live-Feed to Facebook for all to enjoy! The poets were ecstatic and the event was a huge success!

Memory Books For Seniors

Memory Books/Scrapbooks are made for Nursing Home Residents. Family members supply photos, newspaper clippings, birth certificates and any other information available. The club purchases Scrapbooks in the resident’s favorite color and the items are assembled in chronological order with labels and pretty paper and embellishments. The residents love our visits and enjoy looking through their books and sharing with others. The books will assist them as their memory deteriorates and will provide the family with fond memories in years to come.

Next Steps

We provide finding, activities, and support to women in residents at the Next Step Cottage in Willimantic, Connecticut. The Next Steps Cottage Treatment Program provides services for women 18 years and older who are currently involved in Connecticut’s justice system and transitioning back into society. The activities that we provide include craft day’s, a cultural field trip, financial support, and donations of necessary toiletries and personal care items.

Stuff the Bus – Sanford, Springvale

The Altrusa Club of Sanford-Springvale has supported Stuff the Bus for many years. This year we upped our involvement. Stuff the Bus is a not for profit organization in our community that supplies, back packs and materials for children K – 12. While there are many programs similar to this, ours is unique in that all of the materials collected are put out on one day in an auditorium and volunteers take the student through so that they can pick the items they want from a list provided by their teachers. This allows for older students to help younger students and so they benefit not only from receiving supplies but by giving of their time. Altrusa of Sanford-Springvale supported this project by collecting supplies at our local WalMart for each Saturday in the August. Helping with transport from the storage site to the auditorium and setting up for “shopping”, acting as a personal shopper one on one with students. Replenishing stations and interacting with the students to encourage them to choose their supplies and that special Back Pack that prepares them for the first day of school and a successful year. We also support this program with a $500.00 cash donation.

Operation Paperback

The literacy committee has started take away libraries at the Department of Child and Family Services, the Covenant Soup Kitchen, and the No Freeze homeless shelter. The shelter has 45 beds and the soup kitchen serves an average of 100 people every day. However, these clients have limited access to reading material.
The members of our club started going to book sales at local libraries to purchase gently used paperbacks of various genres. Children’s books are included. Bookshelves were donated by a third party and placed in the agencies. Clients of the agencies are welcome to choose and keep the books. We have also provided reading glasses and reading lights for those who would like to read at night without bothering the others. The bookshelves are periodically monitored by our members. Another aspect of the project is a holiday card signing. Our members write a personal message and sign cards for the No Freeze clients. These cards come with a candy cane and a blank card with a stamped envelope so the clients are welcome to send a card to someone else. These cards are delivered to the shelter in December.
Operation Paperback supports both the libraries and people who take books from the shelves. Its a win-win project.

Bubbles and Books

Portland altrusa club worked with the Portland School department and delivered lunches, books and bubbles.
This lasted several weeks at Deering oaks Park in Portland, And also there was a Portland Public Library bus was in attendance

ASTRA club Habitat for Humanity build Project

the ASTRA club coordinated travel to the location in Scarborough, Me and worked on various tasks associated with building a home for Habitat for Humanity.
Lunch was delivered and provided by the parent organization, Altrusa International of Portland, ME.
They spent the day, hammering, hauling wood, painting and general cleanup.

Empty Bowl

The Empty Bowl Supper is an annual event that the Portland Altrusa Club has been holding for the benefit of Project FEED, a local emergency food pantry. Altrusans volunteer to make and bring a Soup and/or Chowder, also volunteers are needed to bake and bring a variety of desserts. A local Company donates their breads. Altrusans are encouraged so search out soup bowls that can be used to dish out dinner.
Then, Guests as they enter the hall, are asked to choose a ceramic bowl to use for their meal and to keep as a reminder that there are always Empty Bowls in the world.
It has historically been held at Woodfords Church hall, who is the home and distribution point of Project FEED. But in 2018, we had exceeded our capacity and have since moved to a larger hall at St. Pius X.
We also prepare to sell our Calendar Raffles at this event, so planning starts in early September, to secure donations for the Calendar. This Calendar Raffle is held each year in the month of January, where a drawing is held each day in the month for a winner every day.

In exchange for a meal and the bowl, the Guest makes a $10.00 donation.

All proceeds raised will be donated to Project FEED which is an emergency food depot located in the basement of Woodfords Church.

Days for Girls

100 Days for Girls kits have been made and shipped to Guyana, South America. This is the second shipment of DFG kits Altrusans have make and shipped to Guyana.
We meet monthly at the local school’s Home Economics room.