From Laundry to Literacy: Harvest Youth Board Grants $5K to Promote Reading

Martinsville, VA – The Harvest Youth Board has awarded a $5,000 grant to Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County to support its "Loads of Literacy: Books for All" program. This program helps ensure access to age-appropriate books and encourages a lifelong love of reading by providing access to books in local laundromats.

“Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County is grateful to the Harvest Youth Board for this generous grant,” said Linda Dorr, Immediate Altrusa International District Two Past Governor. “This support allows us to continue promoting literacy by putting books in the hands of children and families throughout MHC.”

Dianne Vann, Past District Governor and Altrusa MHC member, added, “This grant will allow us to place books in the hands of children and in homes where the need is greatest. We sincerely thank the Youth Board for helping us build a better Martinsville-Henry County community.”

“Altrusa International of MHC is so grateful for the support of the Harvest Foundation to expand our literacy initiatives in Martinsville and Henry County,” said Lillian Holland, club president. “The opportunity to give new books, encourage reading, and establish good habits at an early age with children and families is so important. We look forward to this opportunity for community engagement through books and reading.”

Altrusa International of Martinsville-Henry County also provides free books at community events like the Grace Network Pumpkin Patch, Oktoberfest, and childcare centers. Books are carefully selected to match developmental stages, support vocabulary growth, and inspire a love of stories.

The Youth Board recognizes that providing children with books outside the classroom supports its mission of creating leadership opportunities for the youth of Martinsville-Henry County by fostering learning, personal growth, and a love of reading.

“We are incredibly grateful to be a part of the vision Altrusa brought to us - to put books in the hands of our local youth. I hope that each book is a blessing of excitement, joy, learning, and community!” stated Chloe Wood, Harvest Youth Board Grants Committee Chair.

For more information about Altrusa and its literacy programs, visit https://districttwo.altrusa.org/martinsville-henry-county/. To learn more about the Harvest Youth Board, visit www.harvestyouthboard.org.