Category «District One»

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.

Let’s Spin a Story

“Let’s Spin a Story” is an attempt to get reading materials into the homes of children who might otherwise not have them readily available. The membership, along with a few local schools, donates gently used books to place in local laundries, with an invitation to children to take home a book.

Poet Laureate

Poetry promotes awareness of world complexities encouraging connection to others with empathy and understanding of other points of view. Our NH Poet Laureate spent 2 days with students, faculty and community demonstrating that the language of poetry isn’t only the translation of expressions of experience, the language of poetry IS experience. There are NO wrong answers in poetry.

SAFFE: Sanitary Assistance for Females Everywhere

SAFFE: Sanitary Assistance for Females Everywhere: SAFFE packets offer hygiene products. Women can ask for a SAFFE packet from soup kitchen personnel without needing an explanation. Our hope: to provide hygiene items and maintain the dignity of women regardless of circumstance.

Pond Hockey Tournament

In January, Altrusa of Carroll County partners with the Laura Foundation to host a pond hockey tournament in Madison, NH. The Laura Foundation is in the process of building a therapeutic recreation center for individuals with disabilities. The pond hockey tournament draws teams from several states and provides an opportunity for outdoor competition for youngsters, both male and female. Volunteers from our Altrusa club support the event by making large quantities of coffee and hot chocolate and then selling those drinks, along with baked goods candy, soup and sandwiches to the participants. This is a two day event and in addition to volunteering during those two days, members support the Laura Foundation by making soup to be sold to participants.

Halloween Town

In October, Altrusa of Carroll County partners with the Laura Foundation to assist with Halloween Town. The Laura Foundation is an organization that is building a therapeutic recreation center for individuals with disabilities in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Halloween Town is an event that is free of charge to the community, where the cabins of a boys camp are converted into “Trick or Treat” venues with a variety of themes. Candy is given out to children at each of the cabins. In addition, rides and games are available. This event typically attracts thousands of participants. Volunteers from Carroll County Altrusa assist with greeting people at the entry gate and distributing maps; serving refreshments; and selling tickets for rides. Many members also donate bags of candy to be distributed at the event.