Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc.
On International Literacy Day, Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc. celebrates the power of reading to open doors, create opportunities, and change lives.
Today, we also extend a special thank you to Dolly Parton for her extraordinary commitment to childhood literacy through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. What began as a program inspired by her father has grown into a remarkable literacy movement, placing books into the hands and homes of millions of young children.
Dolly has shown us that giving a child a book is about so much more than learning to read. It can spark curiosity, build confidence, strengthen families, and inspire dreams for the future.
As Altrusans, literacy holds a special place in our hearts and in our service to the community. We are grateful for champions like Dolly Parton who remind us of the difference we can make when we help others discover the joy and possibilities found within the pages of a book.
📖 On International Literacy Day, let’s celebrate readers, support literacy, and continue opening doors—one book at a time.
Thank you, Dolly, for helping children dream more, learn more, and read more. 💙
Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc. Leading to a Better Community Through Literacy & Service
Member Spotlight for September- Happy September Birthday Martha Woody
Altrusa International of Martinsville/Henry Cty.
This September, Altrusa MHC is proud to shine our Member Spotlight on Martha Woody as we celebrate an incredible 40 years of Altrusa service!
For four decades, Martha has shared her time, talents, and leadership in service to Altrusa and our community. We are grateful for her many contributions and for the difference she continues to make.
Thank you, Martha, for 40 years of “Leading to a Better Community!”
And there’s even more to celebrate this month…
Happy September Birthday, Martha!
Altrusa MHC Welcomes Mr. Greg Preston
ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL OF MARTINSVILLE/HENRY COUNTY VA
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Join us for the first Altrusa MHC meeting of our new service year! Join us in welcoming Mr. Greg Preston, Executive Director of Piedmont Community Services as our guest speaker.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
10:00 a.m.
Franck’s Place at King’s Grant Community
We are looking forward to being together again as we begin another year of service, fellowship, and making a difference in our community.
We hope to see you there!
New Literacy Challenge
This challenge is as simple as 1, 2, 3:
1. Donate. Give at least one book per club member between September 1st through November 30th to earn a commemorative patch for your club banner.
2. Capture & Share. Take a picture – of the books, your club, the distribution, or the recipients* – and email it to altrusa@altrusa.org so our office staff can share your impact on one of our social media platforms.
3. Log Your Impact. Record your donated books on the Altrusa website under the Service tab. Click on the Entry Form link under the Altrusa International Literacy Challenge One Book at a Time III. The office will track books logged during the special 90-day period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Number of Books – If your club has 20 members, donate 20 books. If you have 13 members, donate 13 books. Whatever number of members you have is the number of books you can give. However, you’re always welcome to donate more. 😊
New or Existing Project – This can be part of a current project or something new — no need for anything big or elaborate.
Local, Regional or International – You choose where the books go.
No Age Limit – Books may be donated to children or adults.
New or Gently Loved – Brand-new books or gently used books are welcome. You don’t need to stretch your budget to participate.
· *Important – Please obtain photo releases for any minors or non-Altrusans (available under the Communications tab on the Altrusa website).
This is the first year of a three year challenge. Because of the short notice, we’re keeping it simple this year. Additional features will be introduced in years two and three, with details shared in early 2027 so you can plan ahead.
We hope you and your fellow club members are excited to share the joy of Altrusa. Use this challenge as an opportunity to recruit new members or simply enjoy time together. I would love to hear how your club participates — feel free to email me at cmdevlieger27@gmail.com with your stories or questions.
With Altrusa Love,
Christine “Chris” DeVlieger
International President
From Laundry to Literacy: Harvest Youth Board Grants 5K to Promote Reading
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
To learn more about the Harvest Youth Board, visit www.harvestyouthboard.org.
District Two Area III Workshop
SAVE THE DATE — AREA III FALL WORKSHOP!
Altrusa MHC members, mark your calendars and plan to join us for the Area III Fall Workshop!
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Hosted by Altrusa International of Richmond, Virginia
Members from our fellow Area III clubs — Richmond, Tidewater, and Capital City — will be there, making this a wonderful opportunity to connect, share ideas, learn from one another, and enjoy Altrusa fellowship.
Come represent Altrusa MHC and enjoy a great day with our Area III Altrusa friends!
Hope to see you there!
Altrusa MHC Was BEE-ing Part of Something Amazing!
Members of Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc. joined other community organizations and vendors today for the first BEE City USA Flight Festival in Martinsville!
It was a wonderful day of community, fun, learning, and connection. Visitors to the Altrusa MHC table received a FREE children’s book to take home, read, and share and had fun coloring their own “BEE A Reader” bookmark.
The festival also featured pollinator garden fun, live music, games, activities, and raffles for free prizes.
We loved sharing the day with our community and helping children discover that reading is something to BEE excited about!
Altrusa MHC was proud to BEE part of something amazing!
Back2School 2026 is a Wrap!
Back2School 2026 is a wrap!
What an amazing example of community coming together to serve children and families!
Yesterday, volunteers from the faith-based community, Grace Network, MHC Partners for Children, Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc., and other local nonprofit organizations joined together at the Uptown Ministry Center for Back2School 2026, serving the Martinsville Cluster.
Together, we served approximately 139 children and their families, providing shoes, socks, backpacks filled with school supplies, and a children’s book to take home. Children also heard the inspiring story of how Samaritan’s Feet began with a little boy who dared to dream big.
Back2School 2026 is a wonderful reminder of what can happen when a community works together to help children begin a new school year with confidence, encouragement, and the supplies they need to succeed.
Thank you to every volunteer and community partner who helped make this special day possible!
Write Your Story - A Library of Altrusans 2025-2027
Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc.
70th Altrusa District Two Conference - Apr 23-26, 2026
A District publication that includes information from your District Board and District Chairs, details of upcoming District Events, and updates from the Altrusa Clubs in your area.
An International publication that includes information from your International Board and International Chairs, updates from the International Office, and details of International Convention.
Banner
Header
Martinsville/Henry Cty.
International Literacy Day, September 8
Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc.
On International Literacy Day, Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc. celebrates the power of reading to open doors, create opportunities, and change lives.
Today, we also extend a special thank you to Dolly Parton for her extraordinary commitment to childhood literacy through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. What began as a program inspired by her father has grown into a remarkable literacy movement, placing books into the hands and homes of millions of young children.
Dolly has shown us that giving a child a book is about so much more than learning to read. It can spark curiosity, build confidence, strengthen families, and inspire dreams for the future.
As Altrusans, literacy holds a special place in our hearts and in our service to the community. We are grateful for champions like Dolly Parton who remind us of the difference we can make when we help others discover the joy and possibilities found within the pages of a book.
📖 On International Literacy Day, let’s celebrate readers, support literacy, and continue opening doors—one book at a time.
Thank you, Dolly, for helping children dream more, learn more, and read more. 💙
Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc.
Leading to a Better Community Through Literacy & Service
Member Spotlight for September- Happy September Birthday Martha Woody
Altrusa International of Martinsville/Henry Cty.
Altrusa MHC Welcomes Mr. Greg Preston
ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL OF MARTINSVILLE/HENRY COUNTY VA
New Literacy Challenge
1. Donate. Give at least one book per club member between September 1st through November 30th to earn a commemorative patch for your club banner.
2. Capture & Share. Take a picture – of the books, your club, the distribution, or the recipients* – and email it to altrusa@altrusa.org so our office staff can share your impact on one of our social media platforms.
3. Log Your Impact. Record your donated books on the Altrusa website under the Service tab. Click on the Entry Form link under the Altrusa International Literacy Challenge One Book at a Time III. The office will track books logged during the special 90-day period.
· *Important – Please obtain photo releases for any minors or non-Altrusans (available under the Communications tab on the Altrusa website).
This is the first year of a three year challenge. Because of the short notice, we’re keeping it simple this year. Additional features will be introduced in years two and three, with details shared in early 2027 so you can plan ahead.
We hope you and your fellow club members are excited to share the joy of Altrusa. Use this challenge as an opportunity to recruit new members or simply enjoy time together. I would love to hear how your club participates — feel free to email me at cmdevlieger27@gmail.com with your stories or questions.
With Altrusa Love,
Christine “Chris” DeVlieger
International President
From Laundry to Literacy: Harvest Youth Board Grants 5K to Promote Reading
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.
District Two Area III Workshop
Altrusa MHC Was BEE-ing Part of Something Amazing!
Back2School 2026 is a Wrap!
Write Your Story - A Library of Altrusans 2025-2027
Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County, Inc.
70th Altrusa District Two Conference - Apr 23-26, 2026
Click to ViewAltrusa MHC Long Range Strategic Plan 2025-2026
Read MoreGovernor's Message Sept. 2026
News from around Altrusa International District Two
Read MoreDistrict Two Service Newsletter - June 2026
Read MoreDistrict Two Goals 2025-2027
Read MoreDistrict Service Bulletin (DSB) Summer 2025
A District publication that includes information from your District Board and District Chairs, details of upcoming District Events, and updates from the Altrusa Clubs in your area.
Read MoreDistrict Two Policies and Procedures 2023-2024
District Two Policies and Procedures 2023-2025Altrusa International Official Policies
Read MoreDistrict Two Official Bylaws 2023-2025
Read MoreAltrusa International Official Bylaws, July 2023
Read MoreDistrict Two Strategic Plan, 2025-2027
Read MoreAltrusa International Strategic Plan
Read MoreAltrusa International Compass
An International publication that includes information from your International Board and International Chairs, updates from the International Office, and details of International Convention.
Read MoreWE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ENERGETIC, SERVICE-MINDED PEOPLE TO JOIN ALTRUSA.
Meeting Information
Our Club meets on the third Saturday of each month at 10:00 am
Club President
Lillian Holland @ misslillian22@yahoo.com
Club Newsletter
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Complete a membership form below and send to altrusamhc890@gmail.com
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