Category «Elderly»

Salvation Army bell ringing

Ring the bell for the Salvation Army during the holiday season. We have been doing this for more than 25 years now.

Bon Appetit Meal program

Cook and assist at community meal program.

Fifty Pamper Packs for women were purchased commercially thus supporting a local business and were delivered to various organisations within our community for women going through a tough time. We chose Rest Homes, District Nurses, a Disability group, Social Services, who at their discretion gifted the pamper packs to worthy recipients.
We were told that some of the recipients were in tears after receiving their gift and that it was so rewarding to be remembered. The small things we take for granted often really make a difference in another person’s life.

Be a Santa to a Senior – Strangers giving to strangers

Timaru Club spotted this project from another District Fifteen Club and decided to do it in our area.
Residential Care facilities were approached for recipients who do not have family or friends around them at Christmas. They were asked what they would like within a reasonable dollar value and then those ‘wishes’ are forwarded to us.
A Christmas tree is set up in our local library with the ‘wishes’, the public take a wish, purchase the item/s and return to us unwrapped at a later date. Altrusa members gather to wrap and just before Christmas the gifts are delivered to the Care facilities. A common comment from recipients is often “why would anyone do this for me”

At Your Service Meals on Wheels

The club supplies the Meals on Wheels (MOW) Food Delivery Service, primarily to the elderly treats at Easter and Christmas.
At Easter the club gather Easter Eggs, cellophane packets and ribbons, putting together a small pack of chocolate eggs to be distributed for the Easter MOW delivery.
At Christmas time members bake Shortbread biscuits, up to 100 packages of six, and tie with a ribbon. These are added to the Christmas Meals delivered by MOW. These are very much appreciated by the recipients

We Care Packages

We purchased and donated 400 items for 80 Meals on Wheels recipients. Items included pens, pencils, activity books, playing cards, and pill cases.

Aged Concern Luncheon

Morrinsville club hold an annual Christmas luncheon for elderly people who have no family living nearby or are own their own. The attendees are nominated by Aged Concern Morrinsville. The lunch is accompanied by live entertainment from the community and is Christmas themed. All of those invited receive a hamper filled with everyday supplies and Christmas goodies. They also get a pair of warm socks.

Altrusa Athenaeum

You don’t normally associate hospital and reading room, but Altrusa did. They felt there was a need for a bookshelf and assorted reading materials for the ICU waiting room at the local hospital. So they created a reading area in the waiting room. Every month two Altrusans volunteer to stock the bookshelves with new books and magazines. They remove any worn out reading materials. For the many hours that families spend waiting in this room, they now have an alternative to mindless television programming and can maintain their literacy skills. This club addressed a little known need of the community in an effective and supportive manner.

Heart to Heart

This service project addresses the loss of a loved one. It is typically done the week of Valentine’s Day. Members submit names and addresses of people they know who have lost a loved one. Members gather to stuff gift bags with theme related food, candy, hand made fragrant soaps, inspirational cards or small books. This is a personal service project as the gift bags are delivered in person to the recipients, a project that clearly reveals the heart of Altrusa in Sikeston.

Heart to Heart

This project meets a community need that addresses the loss of a family member. Each year around Valentine’s Day, club members submit the names of people they know in the community who have lost a loved one. This good will project is intended to be a pick me up for those who have suffered a loss. Cute bags with theme food items, small gifts like fragrant soap, and inspirational cards and booklets are prepared and delivered to the recipients close to Valentine’s Day. This is an in-person project addressing loneliness and isolation.