Supporting our local Non- Profits

The LIST!

 GRACE HOUSE 

This past month our club created and delivered several comfort bags to Starting Point's Grace House. Each bag contains personal care items as well as a personal note of encouragement. The bags are given to the guests who engage the services of Grace House. Imagine leaving in the middle of the night seeking shelter and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. No time to gather the simple essential items, like shampoo, body wash etc. A comfort bag is helpful in feeling a but cared for at a time that can be very full of emotion. Thank you Altrusa sisters for shopping, gathering and delivering these special bags.

Cathy, Nancy and Donna present Deb with the first bags

 

JEN'S FRIENDS

At our March meeting board members from Jen's Friends gave a presentation about the support they give to for families experiencing cancer. They gave a brief history of the organization and we learned that they currently support 75 families and spend nearly $30,000 a month through food, gas, rental assistance. Often families have huge medical bills and the support from Jen's friends for basic needs means that medical costs can be paid for by the family. Since this is an all volunteer organization means that 100% of 

funds raised are directly used for family support. Altrusa is proud to donate to this organization and we hope to provide hand s on support at one of their events. 

February is for caring and sharing

Valentine Cookies ready to be delivered!

  We love to bake and show that we care for our first responders, medical folks and of course our military. February meeting allowed us to show the love by packing cookies for distribution as well as collecting items such as crosswords, cards, gum and notes of thanks to be sent to military serving abroad.

Letters of encouragment, gum, cards, pencils and games for 

our SOS project

 

New Project! Adopting Grace House- a shelter for victims of domestic abuse

 At our February meeting, our group heard from Deb Weinstein, the director of Starting Point, a local non profit whose mission is:

• Ensuring quality services are provided to victims of relationship violence and sexual abuse;
• Preventing future relationship violence;
• Promoting social change ; and
• Encouraging accountability and education for perpetrators and stalkers. 

Deb shared much important information such as the increase from assisting 5,000 victims to get housing in 2019-2020, to 16,000 the following year . Housing can be emergency or shelter housing. The pattern that they are currently seeing is people staying longer and having a higher level of trauma with increased long term needs.

Starting Point runs a shelter called Grace House. It is a safe environment for victims to get help in the way of emotional support as well as housing. Our Altrusa Club is starting a new project; Care bags, which incoming guests will receive. The bags are filled with personal care items as well as a not of encouragement. Many times when someone leaves an unsafe situation they literally only have the clothes on their backs so being able to have a bag with shampoos, conditioners, toothbrushes etc. is helpful. 

Pictured: Nancy Spaulding, President, Deb Weinstein from Starting Point holding the Care Bag and Cathy Babutt who brought the idea to the club.

Winter Meeting Update

 At our last meeting we discussed changing the time and day of our meetings. Winter is here and since many of our members travel a distance to attend our meeting it was decided to change to a noontime meeting. We have been meeting on Tuesdays but since the library has a minor conflict at noon, it was decided to meet the first Monday of the month for our January, February and March meetings We will assess at the March meeting whether or not to make this a permanent time change.

 January 3, February7, March 7. The Board will provide a pizza lunch for the January meeting.

 

Santa's Cookie Elves sharing their goodies

 Merry Merry to one and all. It is wonderful to be able to share our talents with our communities and and honor to be able to serve them in a variety of ways. 

Santa's cookie elves hard at work creating platters of home baked treats. Although tempting, not a cookie was taken by the elves. Platters were delivered to 

Conway Police Department, Conway Vet, Starting Point, White Mountain Community Health Center, Gibson Center, Mineral Springs, Merriman House, North Conway Fire Department, The Waystation, Adult Day Center, Ossipee nursing home and the Madison library. Everyone was so appreciative of our efforts.

 

Fall workshop focus on Membership

Members Diane, Nancy, Barb, Pat, Cathy and Ruth attended the District One Fall workshop to have fun and learn more about how to retain and gain new members. Our group had some terrific ideas such as new member gathering, fun activities during the summer  and inviting friends to help us in our volunteer events.

                               Members of Carroll County, Laconia and Meredith clubs invite their Altrusa sisters to come to April Conference which will be held in North Conway. Their jingle asking Altrusa to come help search for Bruce the moose who is on the loose was well received.

Take Note: Lot's of Ways to get involved.

 Fall is off to a quick start for our Altrusa group. Our last meeting, on October 5, was held at the Madison Public Library and it was terrific to see everyone in person. It was a brown bag affair although the Membership Committee brought drinks and desserts. At our November meeting we will have Crystal Sawyer as our guest speaker. Crystal is the director of Carroll Academy/Carroll Country Adult Ed.

Here are some dates to note:

                        October 28- 68 Hours of Hunger 10 AM Kennett Middle School

                        November 2 at 6 PM. Brown Bag with the board providing dessert and drinks.

                        November 5-6 District Workshop in Portland- the focus is on Membership 

                        Monday, November 22 - 68 hour of hunger packing ( this is due to Thanksgiving) 

Be on the lookout for DCYF Christmas party Saturday, December 11 at Madison Elementary School noon- 4. We will need help in a variety of ways.