Adult Literacy

Inspired by Altrusa International’s commitment to literacy and by the high number of illiterate adults in Buncombe County, Asheville Altrusans established a literacy project in 1983.  The Asheville club formed its own literacy council in 1986 and, through this project, trained approximately 200 tutors, including 11 Craggy Prison inmates.  In 1987, Altrusa of Asheville won the coveted District Three Mamie L. Bass Service Award for its adult literacy project.  In 1991, Asheville Altrusans hosted their first annual Literacy Spelling Bee.  This fundraiser and public awareness project earned the club the 1991 District Three Literacy Award (First Place).  In 1992, the Altrusa Literacy Council merged with another local literacy provider to form the present day Literacy Council of Buncombe County.  Altrusans support this Council through the annual Spelling Bee, and at least two Altrusans serve each year on the Literacy Council’s Board of Directors. The club elected to turn the Spelling Bee over to the Literacy Council after the 2008 event and to choose another Literacy project.

Money and Mentoring Project

In 2003, Asheville Altrusans established the Money and Mentoring project.  The goal of this program is to assist a motivated senior at Asheville/Buncombe Community College by providing funds for the last year of school and to learn, through mentoring by Altrusa members, skills and contacts that will assist her to launch her professional career.  The student is chosen from those presented by the college as meeting the criteria set by the Community Service committee.  These criteria will reflect those qualities that would lead to a career which would make her eligible for membership in the club although no commitment is required for future membership.  The recipient will receive scholarship funds for tuition and books and mentoring support from interested Altrusa members.  The student will attend Altrusa meetings during which she will report on her progress and become familiar with the goals and attributes of Altrusa International as well as our local Asheville club.

Meals on Wheels Holiday Magic Project

Annually,  the Buncombe County Meals on Wheels (MOW) agency asks the community to donate gifts for their homebound adults at the Christmas holiday.  In 1999, Carolyn Termini, an Asheville Altrusa member, took this request to heart and through her individual efforts was able to gather together 54 gifts for the MOW clients.  In 2003, she asked the Asheville Altrusan to adopt this project as an on-going community service.  With the assistance of the club, over 350 gift packages were created from donated items for the MOW clients.  The clients of MOW are homebound adults who very often have no family or friends in the area and the volunteers who deliver the meals are their only contact with the world.  The gift packages helped break the loneliness that many faced during a time of holiday celebration.  The club participated in this project from 2003 through 2007.

Other Community Outreach

Asheville Altrusans support  other nonprofit projects.  Kids Voting is a nonpartisan program that allows students in grades K-12 to cast “unofficial” ballots on Election Day.  Altrusans conduct the Kids Voting program in one local polling place.   In 2007, the club also participated in the Soles4Souls Project donating shoes to an organization which aids the hurting worldwide and the Altrusa Foundation contributed funding for one World War II Veteran to spend a day visiting the World War II Memorial in the nation's capital through a program sponsored by the Asheville Rotary Club.