Altrusa International of Greater Kansas City, Inc.

Altrusa International of Greater Kansas City is an international volunteer service organization made up of leaders dedicated to improving local communities through personal service, achieving as a group what individuals cannot do alone.

With a long history, their first meeting was held in 1936, Altrusans—members of the club—believe that strong leadership creates better communities.  

The club develops and funds specific service projects to meet community needs, especially in the area of literacy, following a three-year service plan. Each three-year service plan always involves a new organization that has never worked with volunteers before in a mutually educational opportunity and supportive environment.

The group works with a variety of service organizations doing projects that are easily replicable. One Altrusan developed literacy adoption program called “Head to Toes,” that takes place during Christmas. In this program, each participating child receives a new book and a gift card for a pair of shoes at Payless Shoe Store. In the last ten months, this club of approximately twenty women have given 1,656 hours of service to the many projects that they have undertaken including clipping and mailing $338,181.00 worth of manufacturer's coupons to an Air Force Base in Incirlik, Turkey through the Overseas Coupon Program.

Currently, Altrusa is working with Awesome Ambitions, Dictionary Project, Elmwood Cemetery, Habitat for Humanity, Harvesters, KC Literacy, Operation Breakthrough, Overseas Coupon Program and Upper Room.