Martinsville/Henry Cty.

From Laundry to Literacy: Harvest Youth Board Grants $5K to

Promote Reading

Local Altrusa organization awarded $5,000 to Promote Literacy in Martinsville-Henry County

Martinsville, VA – The Harvest Youth Board has awarded a $5,000 grant to Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County to support its “Loads of Literacy: Books for All” program. This program helps ensure access to age-appropriate books and encourages a lifelong love of reading by providing access to books in local laundromats. “Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County is grateful to the Harvest Youth Board for this generous grant,” said Linda Dorr, Immediate Altrusa International District Two Past Governor. “This support allows us to continue promoting literacy by putting books in the hands of children and families throughout MHC.” Dianne Vann, Past District Governor and Altrusa MHC member, added,“This grant will allow us to place books in the hands of children and in homes where the need is greatest. We sincerely thank the Youth Board for helping us build a better Martinsville-Henry County community.”

Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County also provides free books at community events like the Grace Network Pumpkin Patch, Oktoberfest, and childcare centers. Books are carefully selected to match developmental stages, support vocabulary growth, and inspire a love of stories. The Youth Board recognizes that providing children with books outside the classroom supports its mission of creating leadership opportunities for the youth of Martinsville-Henry County by fostering learning, personal growth, and a love of reading “We are incredibly grateful to be a part of the vision Altrusa brought to us – to put books in the hands of our local youth. I hope that each book is a blessing of excitement, joy, learning, and community!” stated Chloe Wood, Harvest Youth Board Grants Committee Chair.

For more information about Altrusa and its literacy programs, visit

https://districttwo.altrusa.org/martinsville-henry-county/.

To learn more about the Harvest Youth Board, visit www.harvestyouthboard.org.

On a chilly, rainy Saturday afternoon, members of Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc. gathered for our January meeting with a special focus on Leadership.

Linda Dorr presented a thoughtful leadership program, followed by our business meeting led by Club President Lillian Holland. Members then worked together to prepare a meal for 40 guests at the Martinsville-Henry County Warming Center—from prepping vegetables and packaging rolls to homemade desserts and kitchen clean-up.

A special word of appreciation to Lillian Holland, Club President, for graciously hosting our meeting at Horsepasture Christian Church, and for organizing both the meal preparation and delivery to the Martinsville-Henry County Warming Center. Your leadership and dedication truly made the afternoon meaningful.

Lillian Holland and her husband, Darryl, delivered all 40 meals to the Warming Center. It was truly an afternoon of fellowship, collaboration, and service—”leading to a better community. “