Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc.

The Altrusa literacy committee made a recent delivery to Mission Arch and Sunset Villa Nursing Homes. Each Home received 150 books, including 50 large print. The Activities Directors were excited for new books to be used in their lending libraries.

The first photo is of Altrusans delivering items to Mission Arch. Cassie, the Activities Director, was on-hand to accept the delivery from Altrusa.

The second photo is Altrusans delivering items to Sunset Villa. Activities Director Ashley was on-hand to accept the delivery from Altrusa.

A couple more photos from the Salvation Army bell ringing Altrusans volunteered for on Saturday. It is a great event that we look forward to each year.

Thanks to everyone who rang the bell for the Salvation Army today!!

Altrusans are ringing the bell for the Salvation Army today. Come by Hobby Lobby and support the kettle!

J.O.Y. Center representative Monica Duran (holding check on left) was presented a donation in the amount of $950.00 by Janice Villareal and members of the Community Service Committee on behalf of Altrusa. These funds will help the J.O.Y Center with their mission of providing congregate meals, home delivered meals, transportation, housekeeping services, health promotion activities, adult day care services, caregiver services under the NFCS program, and other senior services, as needed.

A Huge Congratulations to Altrusan Michelle Pruitt, for being The 2023 Administrator of the Year for Tobosa Developmental Services, Los Pasitos Early Intervention! 🎉🎊

Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. was fortunate to have District Ten Governor-Elect Sonja Horn visit us in October. She shared many interesting things about the District, such as the goals for the biennium and information about next year's District Conference. Thank you Sonja for visiting our club!

Smarties and 134 books were given to the children who participated in the Make a Difference Day Book Walk sponsored by Altrusa. Thanks to all who volunteered!

Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. sponsored Missouri Avenue Elementary School students for this year's Roswell Games. Everyone who participated in the Roswell Games received a t-shirt purchased by Altrusa.

Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. helped jumpstart the holiday season for The Salvation Army with a $600 donation during the Altrusa meeting on October 25, 2023..

Other planned projects to assist The Salvation Army this holiday are Bell Ringing and the Angel Tree program. Altrusa members will ring the bell for the Red Kettle Campaign on December 2nd at Hobby Lobby. We invite everyone to come by Hobby Lobby and support Altrusa and The Salvation Army by making a donation to the Red Kettle Campaign.

The Altrusa Club also participates in the Angel Tree program by purchasing Christmas presents for children in Chaves County. In addition to the Angel Tree project, Altrusa will focus on the Teen Room and provide gifts to children ages 13-17 since teenagers do not participate in the Angel Tree project.

This year will be the 136th anniversary of the first Salvation Army bell ringing. The traditional Red Kettle Campaign at Christmastime is the most important fundraiser of the year for The Salvation Army of Roswell. Volunteers are needed to ring the bell – by ringing you will help The Salvation Army serve needy families throughout Roswell, NM.

Help a needy child this Christmas by adopting an “angel” off local trees at different stores and churches (Walmart, Sam’s or local churches) and purchasing gifts for that child. Each “angel tag” will have a child’s wish list of toys and their clothing sizes, so you can help a child directly.

The Salvation Army will be serving Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday November 23 from 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m. at their main building at 612 West College Boulevard. All is free and all are invited! All Meals on Wheels recipients will be receiving a Thanksgiving Meal from The Salvation Army. Meals can be taken to go, if desired.

The Salvation Army also needs help packing food boxes for the holidays. If you have some free time and would like to volunteer, call Shari at The Salvation Army to coordinate the day/time you will be available to help.

Any questions you may have for The Salvation Army, can be answered by calling 575-625-2030.



Photo Caption: On behalf of the Altrusa Community Services Committee and Altrusa members, Janice Villareal (right) presented a check to Shari Callaway (left) of The Salvation Army at the Altrusa meeting on October 25, 2023.

Join Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. and Los Pasitos for the Stepping Out for Children event in Roswell, NM. The event will be held on October 14, from 1-4 p.m. on the courthouse lawn. Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. will sponsor the 2nd Annual Book Walk for children; giving away free books and prizes for those who participate in the book walk.

Time is running out to see the Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. booth at the Eastern New Mexico State Fair in Roswell, NM. This year's theme: 101 - It's Going to be Fun.

Recycling helps your community!

Janice Villarreal has volunteered to collect bottle caps and lids for Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. and deliver them to SW Printers. When we have collected enough bottle caps and lids, they will be recycled into a bench for Roswell.

Below is a list of bottle caps and lids that are acceptable for recycling. Bring your caps and lids to Janice Villarreal at an Altrusa meeting or drop them by SW Printers. If you drop them off at SW Printers, make sure you tell Bianca Cheney that they are for the Altrusa bench.

Start recycling today!

Last year, Erica (left) was the Program Speaker at Altrusa. She spoke on behalf of the Women's Homeless Shelter in Roswell, NM. When members of the Community Service Committee visited with her and asked what Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. could help do at the shelter, a new idea was formed to create the Garden of Hope in the backyard at the shelter. Today, May 23rd, the project was completed -- and, it just so happened to be on Erica's birthday! What a great way to celebrate. Erica is no longer the director of the shelter, but the new director Yazzmine (right) was on-hand to help celebrate Erica's birthday and the completion of the Garden of Hope project.

Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. celebrated the completion of the Garden of Hope project at the Roswell Coalition's Women's Homeless Shelter today. Thanks to the many Altrusans and community members who made this year-long project a reality.

Congratulations to the Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. Communications Committee for receiving 1st Place for the Club's monthly newsletter, Voice of Altrusa.

You are cordially invited to attend the:

Garden of Hope Project Wrap-Up
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
10:00 a.m.
400 E Bland St, Roswell, NM

The Garden of Hope Project was only a concept when it was started in June 2022 by Altrusans who had a desire to turn a sparse backyard into a garden at the Roswell Homeless Coalition's Women's Shelter.

This project, spearheaded by the Community Service Committee, was a year in the making and is now complete thanks to the many helping hands from within Altrusa and the Roswell Community.

Join us on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 to celebrate the wrap-up of this project and to see what a difference it can make when a few people have an idea and come together to bring it to fruition.

Congratulations to Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. for receiving the Mamie L. Bass Service Award at the District Ten Conference for this project. As the winner in this category, the Garden of Hope Project will now be submitted at the Altrusa International level during this year's Altrusa Convention in San Antonio, TX.

The objectives of the award is as follows:

OBJECTIVES

1. To stimulate interest in developing action programs in the community that fall within the scope of Altrusa’s program of service.

2. To encourage members of local Clubs to participate actively in service projects designed to meet specific local needs.

3. To recognize outstanding Club achievement in service to the community.

Students from Gateway Christian School enjoyed a day at the Planetarium compliments of the Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. Literacy Committee.

Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. is happy to support the Little Steps Learning Center. Little Steps Learning Center provides childcare and education for youngsters aged 1 to 12 years old. Little Steps Learning Center is a model inclusive program where children with diverse abilities play, learn and grow together. The Little Steps Learning Center is a center based learning environment and has an intense focus on quality care and teamwork. The Little Steps Learning Center staff team knows that giving each child the individualized care and instruction he or she needs requires complete commitment to each child, the family, and to each other.

Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. was honored to have District Ten Governor Paula Menefee visit our club this week. Thank you for sharing all of the great information about our district.

Join Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. for a night of dinner and dancing at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center. For more information about the event, contact Altrusa at [email protected]. See you on February 24th!

The last meeting of the year was well attended where Altrusans had an opportunity to share a meal, have a gift exchange and share some cheer.

Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. is proud to donate $1,500 to Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell for the GED program. David Castro (left), Assistant Director of Adult Education, accepted the check from Altrusa Member Shelby Corn.

-Roswell

A holiday tradition for Altrusans...ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. Thank you to everyone who supported the event.

On November 19, 2022, the Garden of Hope was dedicated at the Roswell Homeless Coalition's women's shelter. During this holiday season we encourage you and your family to help those in need. Some examples might be sharing a meal with your neighbor; volunteering at a food distribution center; donating clothes, food or money to local shelters; or, sharing a smile. By giving, you receive so much more. We hope you and your family are blessed during this season of joy.

Please enjoy and feel free to share this story from the Roswell Daily Record about Altrusa's dedication of the Garden of Hope.

Women and children spending some time at a local women's shelter can enjoy a backyard with grass, a raised flower garden bed, a picnic table with an umbrella, some climbing rose bushes, a bench swing, a firepit and a children's playhouse.

The Garden of Hope at the Roswell Homeless Coalition's women's shelter on Bland Street was dedicated Saturday afternoon by members of Altrusa International of Roswell, which coordinated the work and funding for the project. Also attending were representatives of the homeless coalition and other community members.

“I know the kids and women are really starting to enjoy having somewhere nice to sit during the day and having the kids have someplace safe to play,” said Erica Boggs, coalition director. She shared that she and her children once lived at the shelter after they lost their home during the COVID pandemic. During the past year, she said, the coalition has housed about 100 people in the men's and women's shelters, with about 60 able to transition to other housing.

"Fifteen women and children are in the women's shelter now, which is the capacity for that facility. Ten men are living in the men's shelter, which can house up to 16. She estimated that about 100 people are homeless in Roswell.

Boggs gave a talk to Altrusa in February and told the members what she really wanted was improvements to the yard area of the women's shelter.

Altrusa members raised funds and received donations of goods from several local businesses. They also did the work, which included planting grass and rose bushes, and coordinated with other community volunteers. That includes shelter residents, who will maintain the yard.

The club also received a $3,820 grant for future improvements. Claudette Foster and Gail Lucier, two of the project leaders, said that they expect new additions to include a vegetable garden, a sprinkler system and benches.

Matt Klipstine, a New Mexico Military Institute employee and a homeless advocate, gave some remarks as well. That included remembering a time in his life when an accident and injury caused him to rely on family members, without whom, he said, he would have been homeless.

“Not everybody has the family safety net that I was blessed to have,” he said.

He added that some cities have demonstrated that, even if their populations have severe issues with mental health and drug addiction, homelessness is not a big problem when adequate housing options exist. He likened it to people with challenges playing musical chairs, with the person unable to get to a chair being the one who won't make it.

According to Klipstine, 64.8 million working U.S. residents have less than $400 in savings and no retirement funds and are about 118 days, or four months, from homelessness.

Altrusa President Shelley Olson spoke as well, including encouraging people to donate or volunteer for the garden effort or to other community organizations benefiting those in need.

Members of Altrusa International of Roswell celebrate the dedication of the Garden of Hope on November 19, 2022, at the Roswell Homeless Coalition's women's shelter on Bland Street. Roswell Homeless Coalition Director Erica Boggs, third from left, suggested the backyard improvement project to Altrusa when they asked how they could help. Some of the lead volunteers for what became a community-wide project were Gail Lucier, on left; Altrusa President Shelley Olson, fifth from left; and Claudette Foster, sixth from left. (Courtesy of the Roswell Daily Record.)

Join Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. for the Garden of Hope Thanksgiving Celebration.

Congratulations to Altrusa International of Roswell, NM, Inc. for receiving a grant from Altrusa International Foundation for the Garden of Hope project. This grant will allow the Altrusa Club to renovate a yard at the Roswell Homeless Coalition's women's shelter.

November is Homeless Awareness Month. Altrusa will host an event at the shelter on Saturday, November 19, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Please join us for the dedication of the Garden of Hope.

Pictured below are (l to r): Community Service Chair Mary Bellicini and Altrusa President Shelley Olson.

Congratulations to our newest Altrusan, Janice W**d. Remember, you do not join Altrusa - you become an Altrusan. Pictured here are (l to r): Membership Committee Chair Nicole Dean, Janice W**d, Sponsor Jennifer Rawdon and Sponsor Kerry Cavin.

The children had a great time today winning books at the Altrusa Book Walk.