TEXARKANA, Texas -- The Christmas season bring people into contact with tradition and some traditions stretch back decades. One such tradition is Altrusa International of Texarkana and local Rotarians preparing gifts for residents of Opportunities, Inc. and other local children.
Stacy Hart, current president of Altrusa Texarkana, is awed by the legacy of service represented by the organization she currently leads, as well as the ladies she works with and their decades of commitment, doing this as well as many other examples of longstanding local service.
"It is incredible to help," she said. "To contribute to this legacy of service, to be involved in such a long running mission of service. This is a legacy of honor. It is humbling to work with these women who still serve."
Altrusa International was formed in World War I, 1917, as unusual numbers of women entered the workforce and they realized there was a need for more women's civic organizations.
"We are a service organization, and we seek to serve, said Linda Larey, member of Texarkana's Altrusa chapter since 1985. "This is one of our major projects each year."
"We came together to serve, this is what we do," said Sue Foster, who joined Altrusa in 1977.
"Tonight, we put together and wrap up all these presents," said Christian Ward, development assistant of Opportunities Inc. "This is wonderful, coming here to wrap presents. Tomorrow, these will all be distributed to our residents as well as to local children by the Rotaries. A lot of work is done to lead up to this, and to see it all come together is just wonderful. When the presents go out tomorrow, it will be even better."
The joint accord and efforts of service with Altrusa and Opportunities Inc. go back many years, as Francis Holcombe, one of the former presidents of Altrusa Texarkana, was one of the founders of Opportunities Inc.
"We did this in 2020," said Hart. "Circumstances that year (pandemic) prevented us from attending the party, but this year, we will be there."
(Opportunities, Inc. is a nonprofit that provides a range of specialized services for children and adults of all ages who have developmental delays and disabilities.)