Altrusa International gains Tuscarawas County Chapter to host first literacy event Sept. 8

A new nonprofit organization that focuses on community service and literacy, now has a chapter in Tuscarawas County. The Altrusa International of Tuscarawas County group began forming about two years ago and officially received their charter earlier this year in March.

“They have clubs all over the world. I was just at a convention, and there were people from Puerto Rico and New Zealand. We are in a district here that includes Ohio and Michigan,” Michele Haverfield, president of the group said.

Previously, Haverfield began going to Altrusa meetings with her mother who was a member of an Akron club. Haverfield went with her to a national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina and another one in San Antonio, Texas.

“I met all these great people, and I started seeing all the great things these clubs were doing in their communities,” Haverfield said. “What they typically do is identify the needs for their particular community, and they jump in. They help with everything from doing things for veterans to the homeless population, but their big focus is literacy.”

Prior to receiving their charter, the group began to help others.

“We started right away by doing some blessing bags for the homeless shelter,” Haverfield said. “Every meeting, we tried to do a little bit of something like maybe just collect something for a food pantry.”

With each project they learned along the way. They have provided items for fundraisers and even provided a homemade meal for clients of Compass at a monthly meeting.

“We are starting to grow,” Haverfield said. “We have had a lot of support from the clubs around us.”

In addition to the clubs in Michigan, there are clubs in Mansfield, Akron, Columbus, Dayton and Highland County, Ohio.

“We're trying to grow because each person brings something different,” Haverfield said. “Each person knows the needs of their little corner of the world, things that the rest of us don't always think about.”

The group has also partnered with The Learning Zone, which provides before and after school care for children, at the Salvation Army. They enjoy providing extra support for the children and would like to become more involved there.

“Some of us, who are able, have been going a couple times a week and helping out with the kids,” Haverfield said. “We do everything from helping with snack time to reading with them. I've played basketball before, which is entertaining.”

The group is looking for other ways they can help too.

In honor of International Literary Day Sept. 8, they are planning their first event the Dover/New Philly Literacy Bash from 5-7 p.m. The event is being held at their partner organization, the Salvation Army Dover Corps Community Center at 809 Emmet Ave. NW in New Philadelphia.

In addition to the food and activities planned, guests will be able to connect with other community organizations including the Tuscarawas Challenger League, Tuscarawas County Health Department, Educational Service Center, Tuscarawas County Public Library, Tuff Bags, the YMCA and more.

The event is open to children in Dover and New Philadelphia in kindergarten through fifth grade.

“We received a grant through our international foundation to help us, so I think that's important,” Haverfield said. “As a new group, the money thing is not abundant yet. That grant has really helped us plan for this event.”

The group has been impressed with the positive response from other area organizations that will be participating including some Dover and New Philadelphia cheerleaders and football players and local royalty from First Town Days.

 The group is doing a book giveaway as part of the event and that is where they have used most of the grant money.

“We're going to have about 250 books there that we're going to give away to children who come and their families,” Haverfield said. “We really want to emphasize families and how families are so important to the education, the literacy and the safety of their children. We are trying to provide families with as many resources as we can.”

The event will also feature some guest readers including Tuscarawas County Sherrif Orvis Campbell, Dover Mayor Shane Gunnoe, and former Indians pitcher and Rainbow Connection Director Perci Garner, children’s author Farrah Raines, Dr. Lana Schrock of the Tuscarawas County Health Department, Captain Lydia of the Salvation Army and more.

For more information visit Altrusa International of Tuscarawas County on Facebook.