Altrusa Club of Copperas Cove celebrates 32nd birthday, 100 years for the club

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

For 32 years, Cove Altrusans have made a big impact on our city primarily focused on promoting literacy but helping with several other community service projects as well.
Altrusa International of Copperas Cove celebrated their 32nd birthday Saturday at the Trinity Worship Center from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Texas (District 9) will be celebrating its 100th birthday this weekend. The first Texas club was organized in Austin in 1923.
For their birthday, members got together to enjoy a fun afternoon with friends enjoying cake and refreshments. They also had a raffle and played games. Members were also asked to bring bilingual books which will be brought to District 9’s 100th birthday party to be donated towards the district’s service project. Each member was asked to donate 5 bilingual books.
“Our main thing is service in our communities,” said Angea Carroll. “It’s not enough to be good; you need to be good for something.”
Carroll talked about some of Altrusa International of Copperas Cove’s many contributions to the community. One of their biggest projects is promoting literacy. To that end, they give free books to Head Start students and Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders. They also donate large print materials to nursing home residents. Aside from their literacy programs, they also hold blood drives, play games with nursing home residents, read to school children, give scholarships, and more.
Angea Carroll is also a charter member for Altrusa International of Copperas Cove.
“I believe in Altrusa,” said Carroll. “I can see that they’ve made such a difference in our community.”
Not only do Altrusans help the community, they support each other and enjoy each other’s company.
“This is my family,” said Debbie Llacuna, president. “There’s not a single person here that I couldn’t rely on.”
Altrusa of Copperas Cove meets at noon on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant. For more information about Altrusa, call Debbie Llacuna at (254) 290-6277