BEDFORD — The Altrusa Club of Bedford, Inc. met on Monday, June 8, 2026, at the Southland Church of Christ, with President Kathleen Row leading the session. The meeting served as a celebration of the club’s extensive community impact over the past year, alongside updates on recent volunteer efforts and future plans.
During the 2025–2026 fiscal year, Altrusans dedicated a staggering 6,902 total volunteer hours to local service initiatives.
The club recognized its top three individual performers for the fiscal year:
- Mary Barnes (500 hours)
- Loretta Bailey
- Becky Bailey
On behalf of the club’s education committee, Loretta Bailey reported a massive push to stock community reading materials over the last month.
Members delivered 125 magazines (25 each) to five local nursing homes, while Susie Turner and Kelly Myers restocked the Avoca Little Library with 120 children’s books and 36 adult books. Additionally, Karen Weaver and Tammy Harrell donated 400 children’s books toward the effort.
President Row noted that Altrusa’s combined education initiatives successfully delivered 2,489 books and magazines to the local community over the past fiscal year.
During the meeting, Corresponding Secretary Loretta Bailey read a thank-you note from a local scholarship recipient, Trinidy Bailey.
Supporting Local Seniors and Honoring Veterans
The club also highlighted extensive hands-on volunteer work from May, where numerous members assisted with Bingo, popcorn, and refreshments at the local May Senior Fair. Volunteers included Loretta Bailey, Norma Hoffman, David Bailey, Sammie Polley, Becky Bailey, Karen Weaver, Kathleen Row, and Jenny Edwards.
In honor of local veterans, Altrusa members recently participated in a widespread initiative to place American flags on the graves of service members across multiple regional cemeteries:
- Mt. Pleasant Christian Church: Flags placed by Sara Kern, Susie Turner, and Becky Bailey.
- Mundell Christian Church: Flags placed by Loretta and David Bailey, Becky Bailey, and Fannie Lee.
- Green Hill Cemetery: Flags placed by Kelly Myers and her granddaughter, Sadie, alongside Sara Kern and Fannie Lee.
- Old Burial Sites: Phil Bailey assisted the club’s efforts by clearing a walking trail to older, remote burial plots.
In health and wellness news, member Sara Kern reported back on her attendance at the Altrusa District Six Conference, sharing a helpful family medical history form with the chapter.
The Altrusa Club of Bedford will next convene for its July 13 meeting, which will feature a pitch-in dinner, food, and fellowship. Members are encouraged to bring their favorite dish to share.
