DONATING BACK
By LYNETTE SOWELL Cove Leader-PressAfter about one year of saving can tabs from aluminum cans, on Tuesday the members of the Copperas Cove chapter of Altrusa International presented more than 27 pounds of them to Susan Bolton, executive director of Temple’s Ronald Mc- Donald House near McLane Children’s Hospital. Along with Altrusa members, Eileen Walcik, president of the Killeen area chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, also presented 7.2 pounds of tabs. Bolton accepted the tabs gratefully, saying that local groups collecting the tabs have brought in thousands of dollars for the Ronald McDonald House. Bolton said representatives from the Ronald McDonald House take the can tabs to Temple Iron and Metal in Temple where they receive money for the tabs. Another source of local funding is via the Southern Living Christmas Cookbook, sold at Dillard’s stores. In 2014, the cookbooks raised $16,943.56 from sales at local stores, part of the facility’s annual budget of $450,000. The annual golf tournam nt in 2014 raised just over $65,000. All funds raised locally stays at the local Ronald McDonald house. Also on Tuesday, Bolton shared with Altrusa about the Ronald McDonald House and how its staff provides a home away from home for families with children receiving care at nearby Baylor Scott & White Hospital. Bolton also provided a “wish list” of items the house needs regularly, along with a practical list of handson projects that volunteers can do at the house. She extended an open invitation for visitors to come visit the house and see how it operates. Bolton additionally spoke about the Ronald McDonald “family room” located at McLane Children’s Hospital. The family room is open to parents whose children are patients at the hospital. Even if they don’t qualify to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, parents needing a break are welcome to shower, do laundry, and enjoy snacks and coffee at the kitchenette provided by family room supporters. There’s even a lounge and computer workspace. Qualifying to stay at a Ronald McDonald House itself is based on the distance a family lives from the hospital where their child is receiving treatment, along with the severity of the child’s medical condition. A suggested donation of $10 per night is asked of the families, but no qualifying family is turned away for inability to pay. The cost to provide a room to a family is $78.16 per night. In addition to helping local organizations like the Ronald McDonald House, Altrusa also promotes literacy inthe local community. This spring, the Cove Altrusa chapter presented $6,000 to the Copperas Cove Independent School District to purchase books for every first, second, and third grade student in the district. It also donated books for the 2015 Rabbit Fest pageant. The club is also gearing up for its annual golf tournament in October which serves as a big fundraiser for the group. Founded in 1917, Altrusa International was the first national service organization for women. Notable members include Eleanor Roosevelt, who joined in 1920. opperas Cove’s club is one of 35 in the state of Texas and was first chartered in 1991, when a member from the Temple club moved to Cove and believed Cove had the potential to have a club of its own.