By
Elizabeth Richards
Altrusa
International, Inc. might not have the same name recognition as other service
organizations, but members have been serving the area through the Portland club
for ninety years. In Windham, the club
has been putting books in the hands of all kindergarten students for three
years now.
Altrusa
of Portland is one of 17 clubs in District One, which includes New England,
Eastern Canada and Bermuda. In Maine,
there are four Altrusa clubs. Altrusa of
Portland has 39 members, including several from the Lakes Region.
For
twenty-five years, the Portland Altrusa club has participated in the ABC
Literacy Program. Members read a book to
a kindergarten class and then give each child a book to take home, as well as
giving the teacher a book for the classroom.
Club
treasurer Wanda Pettersen joined the club after she retired. She learned about The
ABC Literacy Program, which was happening in every Portland, South Portland and
Westbrook kindergarten classroom at the time, and wanted to bring it to
Windham, where she lives. After making
sure there were members from the area willing to do the reading, she contacted
the principal at Windham Primary School to get the program started.
This
is the third year that Altrusa of Portland has brought the ABC Literacy Program
to all 11 kindergarten classes at Windham Primary School. “It’s so much fun.
The kids love it,” Pettersen said.
“The
children’s faces, when they learn they’re going to get to keep a book – it’s
priceless,” added Club Director Debbie Lemieux.
Children
are given a choice of several books to choose from, so they can select
something that matches their interests. Pettersen
said she was surprised at how many children told her they didn’t have any books
at home. “They are just delighted to
think that they have a book of their own that they can bring home. It is
amazing how many families don’t have books,” she said.
Books
A Million is Altrusa’s main partner for acquiring books, Pettersen said. The store conducts book drives at the cash
registers, and then donates those books to Altrusa.
Lemieux
said the club has given away an average of 100,000 books per year both through
the ABC program and other avenues. In
December, they wrapped books and gave them to area organizations like the Boys
& Girls Club, she said.
They
give board books to Head Start programs, and members donate books that are then
given to Long Creek Youth Development Center, The Cumberland County Jail and
the Windham Correctional Center.
Literacy
is something the club focuses on, but they also participate in other service activities. Last year, they started sponsoring a high
school club, called ASTRA, at Lakes Region High School. This is the first ASTRA club in Maine and one
of just two in New England. The students have weekly meetings and participate
in fundraisers and service projects – including going into Sebago schools to do
the ABC literacy program. The ASTRA club has about 25 student members. “We’re
very proud of our Astrans,” Lemieux said.
Other
club activities include maintaining a memory garden at the Barron Center in
Portland, serving meals at the Ronald McDonald House and for Wayside Community
Programs, giving scholarships, and holding a fundraising event for Project
FEED.
One
of their biggest fundraisers each year is a show by comedian Bob Marley. Marley, whose mother is an Altrusan, donates
his time to the cause. This year, the
show is on Wednesday, May 8 at Keeley’s Banquet Center in Portland. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online
at Eventbrite, on Keeley’s Facebook page, or through an Altrusan.
Altrusa
of Portland is always looking for new members with fresh ideas, Lemieux
said. Meetings are held on the first and
third Wednesday of each month. The first meeting is a business meeting held at
the Clarion Hotel, and the second is a dinner and program held at the Fireside
Inn. For more information, contact the club at altrusaportland@gmail.com or visit their
Facebook page, Altrusa International – Portland, Maine Club.
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