Debbie Jennerjohn

Service Chair

2007 Mamie L. Bass Service Award Entries

First Place

Altrusa International of Puyallup Valley

The 500 Hats of Altrusa International of Puyallup Valley - Originally associated with Make a Difference Day and eventually becoming a yearlong project, Altrusa International of Puyallup Valley members knit and donate hats to chemotherapy patients at Puyallup’s Cancer Center. By June 2006, over 500 hats had been delivered along with inspirational books. Members participated in a special knitting class with the volunteer coordinator of the Cancer Center and several members knit, deliver, and keep records of volunteer hats, hats delivered, and special needs. Hat designs include those specifically for men, including an orange and black Harley Davidson version. All craft supplies have been purchased and/or donated by individual club members and every active member of the club has participated for a total of over 875 personal service hours. In addition, friends of members participate and a group of community members at a local Senior Citizens Center have joined the effort. Feedback from recipients of the hats has been overwhelmingly positive - over 400 cancer patients have received over 500 hats – and the club has garnered greater community visibility.

Altrusa Care Kits - Filling a need identified by six local nonprofit agencies, Altrusa International of Nanaimo created care kits to provide hygiene and comfort items to as many as 1600 female victims of assault, homeless women, and young people with drug or alcohol problems. The goal was to provide basic needs so that the individual could focus more wholly on larger issues like shelter and legal assistance. Over 80% of club members participated by planning, keeping records, overseeing communications and publicity, negotiating donations or discounts, purchasing items, sewing, organizing, fundraising, grant writing, and/or assembling and delivering kits. Funds for the kits, which cost $30CDN each, was provided in part by the Provincial Gaming Authority ($3000 per year for 2005-2008) and an additional $2000 raised by Altrusa members, including $1000 from the Altrusa International Foundation. Significant donations were garnered from the local Wal-Mart and dentists’ association with additional gifts in kind, discounts, and assistance provided by 15 local businesses. The Altrusa club continues to partner with the six nonprofit agencies that originally identified the need, distributing approximately 350 kits during the past year. Over 200 service hours, as well as hours spent sewing over 600 bags by one Altrusa member, were donated to the project and the club has benefited from greater publicity resulting in new memberships. The program will continue for a minimum of two more years with the goal budget of $6000 per year.

Kids in Crisis - In the Hermiston community, there is a very high rate of methamphetamine use, leading to families in crisis, increased crime rates, and great need for critical resources. After consulting with local and state agencies, Altrusa International of Hermiston raised over $20,000 to help fill the resources gap, partnering with 300 community members and 250 businesses in the process. Members participated in gathering book bags with essential items like toiletries, books, flashlights, toys, and blankets for children taken into foster homes. Along with the bags, $400 in gift certificates (to take children shopping for clothing items) and a $1500 emergency credit line was extended to the Director of State Human Resources.  $1000 was also granted to the Hermiston School District to purchase coats, shoes, and other essential clothing items for local kids. Finally, an additional $1000 was allocated to help form the Lower Columbia Basin Coalition, where an Altrusan serves on the board and members participate in drug education awareness activities like bringing a film and Q&A to local schools. Altrusa members are also pursuing a partnership with Agape House to provide support and resources to local pregnant teenagers.  In total, 100% of members participated in Kids in Crisis activities, resulting in 1175 service hours.

 Altrusa International of Greater Gresham

Altrusa Phuket Police Aid - Alerted to critical needs of the families of police men and women who lost their lives and homes in the 2003 tsunami, Altrusa International of Greater Gresham secured handmade quilts and raffled them to send much needed funds to citizens in Phuket, Thailand. Publicity events included displaying the quilts in a local bank as well as participating in the Gresham Farmer’s Market nearly every Saturday during the summer of 2006 to sell raffle tickets and raise awareness. All members gave time and energy to the project. In total, $4500 was raised, $500 for each family to rebuild and/or fulfill basic needs.  In addition, activities increased the visibility of Altrusa in the community. The Altrusa member who originally learned of the need from her son eventually traveled to Phuket and shared pictures of the club with citizens there.

 Altrusa International  of Lake Washington East

Welcome Home Project - The YWCA Family Village provides apartments and services (child day care, job training, parenting classes, counseling, a clothing bank) to families transitioning to more stable living situations. To assist this program, members of Altrusa International of Lake Washington East collected household goods and donated clothes for residents. In addition, one to three times per year, members are called upon to help make an apartment ready for new residents, including donating funds raised via a Christmas gift wrap booth, gathering and shopping for needed items, cleaning, decorating, and painting. In addition to general preparation, space is designated for youth study areas and holiday items, age-appropriate books, clothing, and school supplies are provided. Three-quarters of members have participated in turnover events one or more times and each event requires between 10 and 50 hours of service. In honor of their service, the club receives from the YWCA a thank you note and an invitation to their annual community recognition luncheon.

 Altrusa International of Roseburg

Valentines for Vets - Partnering with community organizations like Umpqua Bank and the Boys and Girls Club of Roseburg, Altrusa International of Roseburg, Inc. hosts Valentines for Vets the week of February 14^th as part of an annual National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. An opportunity to teach young people appreciation of veterans serving in the military and global conflicts, this event includes fresh baked cookies for kids and craft supplies to create valentines for local veterans. Altrusa International of Roseburg members work alongside young people and help answer questions. In the process, valentines are made and young citizens learn more about veterans. This past year, approximately 120 children made valentines with the assistance of 35 Altrusans, 15 on the day of the event and another 20 providing treats and craft supplies (resulting in 80% participation and 83 service hours.) Following the event, three Altrusans delivered the valentines and visited with several of the 150 veterans living at the local Veterans Hospital. Finally, members created valentines for soldiers currently serving in Iraq to compliment care packages that are sent year-round.

 Altrusa International of Eugene

Books and Beyond – Helping Homeless and Low-Income Clients of St Vincent de Paul in the Eugene-Springfield Area - Partnering with their local St Vincent de Paul, members of Altrusa International of Eugene raised funds as well as gathered and delivered books and hygiene supplies to low-income and homeless citizens in their community. Via events like plant and yard sales and a holiday bazaar, as well as seeking donations from local individuals and businesses, 100% of members procured funds and items for this project, resulting in 192 service hours. Project goals were then exceeded as over 1,477 books and 1,088 hygiene items were distributed to approximately 2,565 citizens in need. At the same time, there was greater recognition and respect for local individuals in need of assistance and increased awareness of the efforts of the local Altrusa club.  Indeed, the club was honored with a plaque at an event attended by the mayor of Eugene and fellow community service organizations.

 Altrusa International of South Pierce County

The Edge - The Altrusa Club of South Pierce County serves local homeless youth by providing a place to sleep, study, shower, eat, and hang out, all in exchange for the requirement of staying in school. Young people stopping by The Edge can procure clean donated clothing as well as food items and hygiene products to take away with them. Over the course of the year, Altrusans have donated over 1100 items, distributed at The Edge and through three local high school counselors. In addition, club members made 65 scarves for the holidays and donated presents at an Ice Cream Social at The Edge. Finally, club members partnered with a live-in program serving homeless boys, providing over 100 donated housecleaning supplies. In total, via over 100 hours of club service, over 600 young people have been served.

 Altrusa International of Cowlitz County

A Basket Full of Self-Esteem - Partnering with local emergency shelter services, Altrusa of Cowlitz County provided each family departing from shelters with a large laundry basket of household necessities, including cleaning and laundry supplies, kitchen items, linens, toiletries, and books for both adult women and their children. In addition, a note from local Altrusans was included wishing the recipient well and letting them know there are community members who care. At least two full baskets are kept at shelters at any given time. The project was spawned from a competitive comparison-shopping contest within the Altrusa club. All members participated, donating 80 hours of research and planning time, 14 combined hours of original contest shopping, and three hours per basket for purchase and assembly.  Each month Altrusans complete between six and 24 hours of service. Feedback from shelters has been very positive and club members have helped to gather beds and bookcases for many of them.

 Altrusa International of Longview-Kelso

Day of Caring - As part of the local United Way’s kick-off event to raise funds for local social service agencies, Altrusa International of Longview-Kelso members participated in a Day of Caring. Fifteen members, or 25% of the club, volunteered 120 hours towards numerous projects including reading with children at a local elementary school library, assisting with yard work, and helping an elderly couple clear out trash from their garage. Through their volunteer efforts, Altrusa members helped a minimum of 200 individuals. In addition, by wearing Altrusa clothing while they participated in community service, awareness of the local Altrusa club was raised. Overall, the community-wide Day of Caring assisted approximately 6000 citizens via 250 volunteers.

 Altrusa International of Olympia

Suds Challenge - Via an event called the Suds Challenge, members of Altrusa International of Olympia sought to greatly increase their efforts donating basic needs like toilet paper, hygiene products, laundry detergent, and other items that cannot be purchased with food stamps to low-income families via the local YWCA’s “Other Bank.” Sending out letters and making phone calls to fellow community service groups in Olympia, members challenged them to participate and help leverage the number of items donated to local at-risk citizens. The response from groups was very positive as approximately 44% of those contacted contributed items; the goal for next year is to have 80% participation. Members of Altrusa sorted and stored items before delivering them to the YWCA. 100% of members took part, contributing approximately 75 hours to the project, helping approximately 1100 local families, and gathering enough donated items to fill a utility van.

Altrusa International of Pendleton

Altrusa Clothes Line - Seeing a local need for good, used professional clothing for women making a new employment start, Altrusa International of Pendleton secured storage space, began publicity efforts, and collected donations. Following a fire in a neighboring building that decimated their inventory, they persevered by finding new largely donated space via a partnership with Peace Lutheran Church and began anew efforts to gather donated clothing items. Eight social service agencies referred 117 clients to the Altrusa Clothes Line project; in addition, Altrusa members developed a budget to provide spending vouchers, generally in the amount of $20, to the local Wal-Mart for unavailable items like undergarments and shoes. Vouchers were also created to be used at local hair salons. Eighty-seven vouchers for a total of $2231 were distributed during the past year. Donations not distributed via the Altrusa Clothes Line are passed along to local agencies in order to ensure they still reach citizens in need. 42% of club members have participated in the project with 31 volunteering for 160 hours to assist clients and five volunteering an additional 100 hours to sort, clean, and display donated goods. Around fifty donors have given clothing to the project, resulting in assistance to approximately 700 local clients.