Altrusa International Service Projects
A database of Service projects from throughout our Altrusa organization
Altrusa Club of Warsaw will host a community luncheon to celebrate Make A Difference Day 2023. Along with The United Methodist Church, Altrusans will serve approxomately 80 hot meals and provide fellowship to community members in need.
The Muncie Altrusa Club on National Literacy Day kicked off the year of continuing our commitment to literacy in the community by cleaning and filling the five Little Free Libraries and the library at the YWCA-Central Indiana with books. On that day 192 books were placed in these libraries. Throughout the year members of the literacy committee will regularly check the libraries and add or replace books to keep them fresh.
The Muncie Altrusa Club in partnership with Classroom Connection of East Central Indiana, Muncie Public Library and Second Harvest Food Bank participated in the Ball State University Homecoming Parade on October 23rd. Books were transported in six wagons decorated with balloons. Representatives from the four groups distributed 1200 books to the children along the parade route. This activity was a part of the National Make a Difference Day that is celebrated across the country as a day when individuals and organizations come together to make a difference in the lives of others and their communities.
This year’s literacy project was a donating a Literacy/Lego Table to Cicero Library with new Legos and Board Books. The original table for preschoolers needed replacement. This table will be used for conversation as well as creative construction and allow the children explore and read board books. The table is designed to store the Legos and Board Books on open selves. The books were purchased using Distinct Six Grant Money. Our club’s foundation underwrote the table and Legos with one member donating the money for the table in memory of her mother. Each member donated money to the foundation and researched table, Legos and Board Books using Librarians Suggestions. Response from the library Director: “Club members of Altrusa are very gracious and very generous. Thank you, Altrusa.”
This year’s Lexington Service Committee plans included developing a Holiday project. Our research led us to the KY National Guard Child and Youth Program’s Operation Military Cheer which typically benefits 300 children of members of our Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, KY. Contact was made with Cindy Culver, the Lead Child and Youth Programs Coordinator, and Altrusa of Lexington’s offer to provide “books” was immediately welcomed. In mid-October 70 books were purchased at reduced costs from First Book Marketplace with a $200 grant received from District Six. Club members participating in our November Service Basket donated books and cash totaling $485 in support of our “Operation Holiday Cheer” project. A coworker of our one of our Club’s Co-Presidents donated books valued at $202, and a former Altrusan donated books valued at $100. Using the cash from the Service Basket and the generous employee discount from a local bookseller, we were able to purchase books of more than $300 value for $197. Altrusa labels were placed in the nearly 250 books we secured in the course of the project. Our Service Chairs were invited to Boone National Guard Center and delivered the books to Cindy Culver in November, 2020.
Diapers and menstrual supplies, donated by businesses, clubs, and individuals, are packaged and distributed free of charge to community members in need. Monthly “Diaper Drive-ins” —all free—occur at the Salvation Army, or other locations publicized in advance. The project has grown exponentially, moved beyond our local community to become a regional entity, and has passed the 1 million-diaper mark. Recipients range from high school-age mothers to wives of deployed servicemen.
The club was made aware of a need that the Women Veterans in Delaware County would not be receiving the support as in the past due the pandemic. A decision was made that the club would support the women veterans as our holiday service project. Needs were determined by working with the local Veteran Affairs Office (VAO) and the club applied for one of the district’s service grants they were offering to clubs to provide additional help to communities during the pandemic. That $200.00 plus the $100.00 holiday party budget was used to purchase thermal underwear, socks, thermal blankets, hats, and comfort care kits. Another need was to have available for these veterans $10.00 that are distributed by the VAO as needed. Club members were asked to contribute to the project by purchasing $10.00 gift cards to local stores and that they did. With cash collected gifts were purchased for the children. More than 50 percent of the club members were able to participate in this project. In total $1371.49 were contributed to assist Women Veterans in Delaware County.
Puzzle, Game and Crossword Books were purchased and distributed to a local Senior Housing Facility for low to no income residents and to a local not-for-profit long term care facility. This was done during COVID-19 restrictions and helped seniors have an enrichment activity that could be done alone.
During the pandemic, Evansville Altrusans held a parking lot drive for Hangers to collect personal hygiene products. Hangers is an Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation clothing resource committed to serving EVSC students in need by providing them every-day living essentials that would otherwise be unaffordable. By providing clothing, school supplies, and hygiene products, they strive to improve the self-esteem and confidence of each student served, and in turn, ensure greater student success and fulfillment.
The club members donated over 250 personal care items, purchased 100 leisure reading books for middle and high school students and donated $250.00 for needed winter clothing.
The Evansville Altrusans, Make a Difference Day Community Service Project was a WIN-Win in many ways! The Club donated 50 copies of Gary’s Gigantic Dream for distribution to kindergarten, first grade, and special education classrooms in the Evansville area in support of literacy and inclusion. The book is fun, bright, colorful and educational. It takes you on Gary’s journey of being evaluated for his very first wheelchair. Upon receiving his chair, Gary discovers newfound independence and zest for life and a gigantic dream of his own. Dr. Nicole Julia, the book’s author, donated 20% of the book’s sales during August and September to the Evansville Stop Light City Playground. This is an inclusive playground for children with disabilities being constructed in phases on the Westside of Evansville. The Club also purchased copies of the book to be placed in rotation with our books for the Trail with a Tale.