Letter to the Editor

Your view: Making a difference

Friday, December 15, 2006

To the Editor:

The Altrusa Club International Inc. of Sikeston has now completed our "Make a Difference Day" project of collecting school supplies from the general public to distribute to groups that we felt had a great need of such supplies. We had intended to give the supplies to five groups we had chosen to help, but due to the outstanding generosity of all involved, we were able to do so much more.

We gave to the House of Refuge, Sikeston; Mission Missouri, Sikeston; Safe House, Cape Girardeau; Hannah House, Cairo; and Susanna Wesley Learning Center, East Prairie. After dividing among these five, we had so much left over we packaged up boxes for GED Adult Education Center, Sikeston Head Start, Sikeston; Southeast Elementary, Lee Hunter Elementary, Matthews Elementary, Sikeston; and Morehouse Elementary, Morehouse.

With crayons still on hand, we contacted the Correctional Center in Charleston to see if we could put coloring books, crayons, pencil and drawing pads in the Center for inmates' children to use when the came for visitor's days. They were pleased with the offer and we prepared a box to be given to them.

On October 28, Altrusa members with the help to two young people, Elizabeth Sewell and Jacob Pipkin, sorted all the donations and started delivery.

Thanks to all the churches, organization and private donors we were able to meet the immediate needs plus retain a backlog to start off next school year. Altrusa remains committed to stamping out illiteracy throughout the world. Yes, we can make a difference!

Thanks to all,

Altrusa Club International Inc. of Sikeston