From left, are Sharon Sanders, Mary Garrett, Barbara Frye, Beverly Faulkner, Julie Hall, Carol Vierling, Stephanie Booth, Cathy Cox, Jacki Decker, Club President Vicky Patterson, Kim Hiatt, Susan Woodward, Rosemary Laughlin, Vicki Martin, Jeanine Knowles and Martie Lennane. Members are shown with the baskets they assembled at their Oct. 15 meeting. Photo provided.

Press Release

WARSAW — The 2020 Make-A-Difference Day is Saturday, Oct. 24. For this year’s Make-A-Difference Day project, the local Altrusa Club partnered with Gateway Education Center to provide snacks for the students.

Gateway provides various educational opportunities like alternative instructional methods. This program provides an adult-like atmosphere where students are expected to develop self-control and maintain adult behavior. Half of their school week is an academic setting and half of the week provides work experience. Credits earned lead to high school diplomas.

Another program, Rebound, is a half-day program aimed at assisting students who have dropped out of school and want to return, or students who have served an expulsion and would benefit from learning in a smaller setting before transitioning to the general school setting full-time.

The Center’s middle school alternative learning program is designed for students experiencing difficulty in the general school setting and need a smaller environment to work on academic, social, behavioral or mental health issues. Gateway also provides adult education classes to serve non-traditional students.

The Altrusa Club members learned that students enjoy receiving snack awards for their academic accomplishments. Members donated seven big baskets of various snack foods for the Gateway classes. The Club also donated cards of appreciation plus $10 restaurant gift cards to Gateway’s 23-member staff. Members wanted to partner with Gateway to help make a difference in the students’ lives and to show appreciation to the staff for all they do to make a difference in the lives of some of the community’s future adult citizens.

Altrusa International of Warsaw has been part of an international non-profit organization working in local communities to make them better since 1973. Club members will meet next at noon on Thursday, Nov. 3, at KREMC, 370 S. CR 250E, Warsaw. Individuals interested in serving the community are encouraged to attend. More information about Altrusa International of Warsaw may be found on Facebook as Altrusa-Warsaw or by contacting members at [email protected].