Altrusa District One - Local Club Award Submissions - 2011
2011 - Mamie L. Bass Award Submissions
BANGOR - “Ronald McDonald House”
Altrusans of Greater Bangor donated $10,000 over a few years to help construct the Ronald McDonald house where there is a place called “Gail’s Room” in honor of member Gail Ackerly-Hodgins who was President 1994 to 1996 and worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition. Altrusans were asked to provide complete meals for guests one evening per month for 25 people.
BERMUDA - “Initiative for Isis”
Altrusans had a representative from the Isis Foundation, a charitable trust which works in partnership with 10 local non-profit organizations in Nepal and Uganda, speak at their meeting telling them of the need for knitted preemie hats and small blankets. Members enlisted the hlep from knitters in the club and knitters from a nursing home. Members supplied the wool. The hats and blankets were transported to Uganda as luggage of the Isis representatives when making their frequent trips to complete a week of service at the hospital.
MEREDITH - “Farms for Families”
Altrusans picked fresh vegetables for clients of the Food Pantry and other non-profits in the area to boost their nutrition. Originated from the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament where farmers would leave the four corners of their fields for the poor to eat. This project was a win-win because the farmer had extra produce that he didn’t know how to donate and the needy really benefited from eating fresh foods rather than the usual peanut butter and starches.
MERRIMACK VALLEY - “Senior Volunteer Service Award”
This project honors valuable contributions of senior citizens to their communities. Recognizing these citizens would be in effect “Paying It Forward”, the very mission of Altrusa which promotes service and efficiency as well as promote community awareness of Altrusa.
NORTHEASTERN - “Women Helping Women in their Next Step”
Next Step is a program to assist women in the transition from incarceration to community living. The club worked to improve women’s self image. They received a grant proposal for a larger meeting room and helped women enrich their lives through Theater and Performing Arts. They applied and received a grant from International to purchase a Literacy Software Program. Implementation of the program, spending time with the women and conversation were important components of the activity.
PEJEPSCOT AREA - “Workshop on Women’s Safety”
This project was chosen to benefit the community within the aims of Altrusa’s goal in aiding women. They contacted local police and arranged for a detective who was military trained for the speaker. They made figt bags for all who attended donated by local merchants.
PORTLAND - “Empty Bowl Project”
Portland Altrusans used $1000 donation from deceased member, Grace Spears to further a project that best honored Grace. This was Project Feed, and emergency food pantry. Over three years they made ceramic bowls. Empty Bowl is an international project to fight hunger in the world. In exchange for a simple meal of soup and bread, guests made a minimum $10 donation. This year they enlisted the help of Creative Work Systems, an organization that enables adults with cognitive and physical handicaps to increase their self sufficiency.
2011 - Letha H. Brown - Literacy Award submission
BANGOR - “Literacy Book Project”
Twenty Nine Bangor schools were each given a book of their choice to add to their library by the Alrusans of Bangor. At the beginning of the school year each librarian was sent a letter asking what book they would like added to their selection. Altrusans purchased these books through a local discounter and presented them to the Librarians at a reception in May.
BERMUDA - “Rocking Into Literacy”
The Altrusa Club of Bermuda set out to be the “Builder of Libraries” (actually the re-furbisher). Noting the decreasing comprehension levels in reading in the local school system they took on two different grammar school libraries and overhauled them with new books. Some books were purchased from their general fund but they also recruited the PTA, teachers and the public for this project. They had local students reading to the public, sitting in rocking chairs at a Marketplace store while Altrusans handed out brochures about the project. They asked friends and relatives celebrating a birthday to ask for a donation of a book to be donated to this project.. In the end the libraries were restocked with many donated books and more than 200 students are enjoying the results of this project.
MERRIMACK VALLEY - “My Personal Accomplishment - MY GED”
The club raised funds through various means to give a scholarship to a GED grad every year. The first scholarship was awarded in 1990 in the amount of $250. This is to help the graduate go and further their education. Through the years other organizations and local banks have also offered scholarships. The Altrusa scholarship has now grown to $300 each year and is presented by Altrusans at the graduation ceremony of the recipient This year’s winner from Brazil is using it to go to Middlesex Community College with an eye on a degree in psychology.
BIDDEFORD-SACO - “Read to Me”
The Altrusans decided this year to try and instill their love of reading to the first graders of the Biddeford Primary School. When they approached the Superintendent of schools they discovered that no other group was reading to students. The club decided to not only read to the children but to act out the stories and create a project for the children to complete after the story ended. This project related to the story. The books were selected by the ten first grade teachers. Readers and students were encouraged to not only listen but to act out the story thus bringing the books to life. The books were donated to the classrooms after . It was funded by donated money.
PORTLAND - “Booksgiving: Feed the Body - Feed the Mind”
Altrusans realized the need to “Feed” hungry minds through out the year not just during the school year. Learning that lunches were going to be delivered to local recreation centers, gyms and even the beach by the Portland Public School Nutrition Program, they decided to also dish up food for the young minds. Members brought books to these sites, read to the children and gave them books to take home. They delivered books to 24 sites to 1200 children. These books were obtained through their partnership with Border’s Bookstore in Portland, ME,
2011 - Dr. Nina Fay Calhoun - International Relations Award Submissions
PEJEPSCOT AREA - “Scratch and don’t scratch”
This is a combination of their projects that have evolved over several years. First they have partnered with Heifer International to provide a pig in honor of their Club Pig and a flock of chickens (Scratch) to supplement nutrition and improve the economic well being of a family. Then after a health care professional provided information about an outbreak of ringworm in the New Hope (orphanage) School in Simbabwe, the club raised funds to purchase over the counter ointments for its treatment (Don’t Scratch).
BERMUDA - “Helping Dr. Tiffany”
The club remains in contact with the doctors in Haiti after the disastrous Earthquake. Over 760 mosquito nets have been purchased and distributed to the families. Then at the time of the cholera outbreak more funds were raised and donated to puchase medicine. The Haiti Village remains the club’s ongoing international project supported by their bingo/quiz nights where more than 25% of their members continue the fundraising.
