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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.
Club Year 2008-2009
Asheville Altrusans adopted a project that benefits El Hogar de las Ninas Madelaes (The Madelaes Girls' Home) in the Dominican Republic. The mission of this facility is to provide support in the educational, physical, personal, moral and spiritual developments if its residents, who are girls ranging in age from 4 to 17. These girls typically come from extremely poor families who live in conditions which make it impossible for them to provide for their children. Currently the Madelaes Home houses 23 girls in 2500 square feet. Individuals in the Dominican Republic as well as a group of UNC -Chapel Hill students have initiated a fund raising effort to build a larger home for the girls. Asheville Altrusans voted to contribute $1,000 to this building fund and will also individually purchase a T-shirt for each of the 23 residents. Future involvement with the Home could include sending additional items that the girls especially need or like.
Another project for this club year is Loving Food Resources. The mission of this group is "to provide food, health and personal care items to people living with HIV/AIDS or any person receiving home Hospice care in the 17 counties in Western North Carolina. To strive to show love, compassion and tolerance to our clients while tending to their needs. To always serve our clients in the spirit of 'love they neighbor' and 'walk in another's shoes." Club members volunteer time and items to help this organization meet this mission.
The Helpmate Project was sponsored by Bank of America whose employees presented the part of the program on Buying a Home. The BBB presented a Power Point Presentation on Budgeting. There were refreshments and child care provided by several Altrusans. The ten attendees were enthusiastic and participated fully by asking questions. This program was presented in May, after much preparation by Altrusans and coordination with Helpmate..
Other projects were Dress for Success where members donated suits to a local retailer for use by people seeking employment and a Literacy Project in a laundromat to provide donated books and magazines for the customers of that business. Spanish brochures on buying goods or services were also provided.The club also continued the Money and Mentoring Project and The Kids Voting program.
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