Kathryn Lowell, a friend of Altrusa International of Bentonville-Bella Vista, visited Bella Vista recently and talked to club members about the Thokozani preschool in Diepsloot, Africa.
Lowell's husband was transferred to Africa by Walmart Stores Inc. She was already an Altrusan and soon found an outlet for a literacy project. The preschool had more than 100 children with seven adults in attendance. Lowell asked Walmart for help, and the company funded the preschool for a year, bringing in such necessities as a floor, toilet facilities and running water.
This is a continuing project for the club. Members purchase books and, several times a year, when Lowell visits Bella Vista, she brings an empty suitcase with her so she can take the books back to Africa. The Altrusans were happy to hand over the more than 35 books they had collected to fill the suitcase this time around.
Altrusa is an international organization that focuses on literacy. Meetings of the local chapter are held at 11:30 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at River Grille in Bentonville. Visitors are always welcome.
Check out the group's page on Facebook -- www.facebook.com/altrusa8.
Community on 08/13/2014