Category «District Two»

Wreaths Across America 2021

National Wreaths Across America Day
December 18, 2021
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the organization’s mission to Remember, Honor and Teach, is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,500 additional locations
in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.

In recognition of this special day, members from the Altrusa Richmond Club will be placing wreaths at the Seven Pines National Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. Members of the Altrusa International of MHC will be purchasing wreaths to be placed at the cemetery by members of the Richmond Club.

Crafty Saturday

Crafty Saturday November Meeting
Altrusans from Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc. Virginia had a great time putting together 20 hygiene kits and 32 baskets filled with fun sensory objects for residents at two local assisted living facilities. Dr. Nina Huff was our craft instructor. Members also included handmade cards for each basket and kit.

Honoring Our Own

Honoring Our Own
Members of Altrusa International of Martinsville-County, Inc. have been busy writing cards commemorating
Veterans Day on November 11. We honor American’s Veterans, men and women, for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for their country. The 122 cards will be delivered to the Salem VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. #honoringthosewhoserve

Pajamas for Children

During the September Meeting of Altrusa International of Martinsville Henry County, members contributed pajamas of various sizes to be donated to the Henry Martinsville Department of Social Services Foster Care Division. These pajamas will be given to children who find themselves in foster care. Through the club’s partnership with the Department of Social Services, members will continue to keep the clothes closet filled with much needed items for children. #leadingtoabettercommunity

Empowering Families

At the August Meeting of Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc., members contributed diapers as part of our service project. These diapers will be donated for children who find themselves in Foster Care. Altrusa of MHC will be partnering with Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services to provide assistance with foster care children. Foster care is a temporary living situation for children and teens whose parents can’t take care of them and whose need for care has come to the attention of a child welfare agency. The length of time a child or teen spends in foster care varies depending on the family’s circumstances and the services available to help children and teens return safely home. This will be a service project and partnership with Henry Martinsville Department of Social Services. Members will also be taking care of a clothes closet located at Social Services. #leadingtoabettercommunity.

“Undies Sundays”

Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County will be partnering with Piedmont Community Services and local churches, in the “Undies Sundays” Project. Every Sunday in July, we will be collecting newly packaged Boy’s and Girl’s underwear, t-shirts, bras and socks of All Sizes appropriate for school aged students in Henry County Schools and Martinsville City Schools. We will be helping school aged children in our community have new “undies” as they return to school soon. #undiessundays, #projectSUCCESS,
#leadingtoabettercommunity #altrusaMHC

Environmental Tips – Altrusa MHC Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Each month a member, Martha Woody, contributes an Environment Tip(s) that appear in the club’s monthly newsletter. Please find below an example of one of the articles that appeared in the April 2021 Newsletter:
As we start a new season, we may find that we need new supplies. Try buying second hand –
it will reduce waste and the amount of money you spend! Plus, you can support organizations
like the Community Storehouse and Goodwill.
Buy local! Support the Uptown Farmers Market in Martinsville which is now operating again
– great local products at fabulous prices.
Since you’re buying fresh produce at the Farmers Market, try a meatless day of the week
(maybe Monday, maybe not). The meat industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas
emissions. If we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.
Of course, take your reusable bags to the Farmers Market (or the grocery store for that matter).
Plastic bags are dangerous to birds and fish.
Speaking of birds, would you like to watch them as you drink your morning coffee? Install bird
feeders and make your yard more welcoming for local wildlife.
Unplug at night – it’s good for you as well as the environment! Turn off your screens at least
an hour before bedtime. And don’t just turn them off, unplug them as well, or they will
continue to use energy even when not turned on.
This is a harder one – make the effort to unsubscribe from junk mail. Think of all the trees
that we can save! What a great way to observe the 51st annual Earth Day on April 22nd!

Environmental Tips

Working To Protect The Environment

Early in the 2020-2021 Altrusa year, a member of our Altrusa group, who is also a member of the General Joseph Martin Daughters of the American Revolution chapter in our locality, spoke at an Altrusa meeting. A proposed project was organized through TREX recycling, and specific plastics qualified for collection and submission to the TREX Company were identified. As she explained the potential project with a goal to collect 500 pounds of #4 plastics, our members were interested in joining the effort to collect those plastics. Through the program, we became more aware of the types of plastics that typically go into the trash and thus into the waste management stream and convinced us of the need to deal with these items in a more responsible way. Members of Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County voted to begin the joint effort with the DAR to collect the #4 (LDPE) plastics. Some members of the club were already actively involved in local plastics recycling efforts but relegated to throwing away the numerous Low-Density Polyethylene (#4) items they accumulated every day. The total amount of plastics collected was 531 pounds which was over the goal.

Altrusa MHC Supporting Wreaths Across America/SOS

The Martinsville-Henry County club had two projects this year. The first project, our members purchased and wrote notes in 208 cards collected for veterans. The cards were taken to the Veterans Hospital complex in Salem, Virginia, for distribution to residents and hospitalized/outpatient veterans being served. The cards were completed in the months of September and October so that they could be distributed during November in honor of Veterans Day. The second project involved a total of 14 wreaths from the Martinsville/Henry County club being purchased as the club worked collaboratively with the Richmond Club to participate in the Wreaths Across America Project for placement of wreaths in the Richmond area. The funds were collected in November so that the project could be completed in December.