Altrusa International of Mansfield

Altrusa of Mansfield has 67 members who are actively supporting the community with hands-on volunteer service projects and monetary donations. THANK YOU for your generous support of our efforts. We appreciate and have maximized your donations. Through your generosity, our club has impacted thousands of children’s lives in a positive and transformational way! Families have benefitted from the tools, education, and support that is provided.

Below are our PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS for our 2021-2022 fiscal year.

Tools for Schools: 20 years strong, this program provides Richland County teachers and after-school programs with school supplies for students in need.  We equip students with the "tools" needed to succeed. We fulfill requests for items such as crayons, pencils, white board markers, notebooks, glue sticks, and erasers. For the 2022-23 school year, Altrusa provided 122,848 supplies to 32 schools and 2 community programs across 9 districts from 439 teacher requests (highest to date for a single year). Over 1.4 million supplies have been donated by Altrusa since the program began. On average, 11,000 school children benefit annually from our program. 

Big Red Bookshelf: Altrusans sort, count, and sticker books for United Way distribution sites around Richland County several times a year.

Buckeye Imagination Museum: In 2022, Altrusa provided $500 for the museum's new community bulletin board. Altrusa is also co-sponsoring the Imagination District StoryWalk for $5,000. Altrusans will assist with changing the stories throughout the year. 

Buddy Bags: In 2022, Altrusa provided 120 "Buddy Bags" to the students in Mansfield City Schools' S.A.F.E. program which identifies homeless students as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act. The bags contain books, toys, hygiene items, and snacks to provide the children with something of their own to their transitional living arrangements. 

Coats for Kids: For the last 3 years, we have joined the Optimist Club of Mansfield to donate new or gently used coats and winter accessories which are donated to needy community members. 

Dewald Center: Altrusans regularly donate new books to the children’s library and started a tween book club for students. Last year, we honored the life of Altrusan, Randy Moritz, with a reading bench located at the center. Historically, we also volunteer 3 evenings a year during Family Night. 

Domestic Violence Shelter: Altrusans collect personal hygiene items to donate regularly. In 2022, we purchased bed linens for all the new beds added to the Shelter’s newly constructed expansion. 

1st Read to Succeed: New in 2022, Altrusa will provide a new book monthly to every first-grade student in Richland County public schools. Altrusans will deliver the books and read a book to students. 

First English Lutheran Early Learning Center: Altrusa provides $900 to support their summer reading program.

Little Free Library: Altrusa collected 500+ new children’s books this year and collaborated with Mansfield City School by providing the materials for students to build two "Little Free Library" structures, one housed at United Methodist Church and the other at Third Street Family Health Services. The libraries will be filled with books on an ongoing basis for people to take a book home for free.   

Madison Adult Education: Altrusa provides $1,000 each year to the Women in Transition Program. Funds are used for transportation, test fees, and child care. Scholarship recipients are chosen by the educators based upon the principals of Altrusa.  

Mansfield Adult Education-Mid-Ohio Aspire and Workforce Education: Altrusa provides $1,000 each year to adult students to pay for their GED test and transportation needs. 

Marilou Schwan Memorial Scholarship: Altrusa provides a $1,000 scholarship each year to a graduating Mansfield Senior High Student in honor of Legacy Altrusa Member, Marilou Schwan. 

MORE (Mentoring in Ohio for Reading Excellence) Tutoring Program: In 2021 and 2022, Altrusans volunteered as weekly reading tutors for students at Sherman Elementary.

The New Store: Altrusans volunteer to help children select clothing at scheduled dressing days throughout the year.

Renaissance Theatre MindSprouts Creative Writing Program: Altrusa co-sponsors this program for students K-12. 

Altrusa of Mansfield strives to be a known leader for “hands on” volunteerism and support of local community needs. Altrusa of Mansfield was selected as the 2022 Nonprofit of the Year by the Richland Area Chamber.