Altrusa International of Green Bay to host Literacy and Leader Dogs for the Blind

On National Pets Day, Altrusa International of Green Bay will be hosting a “Literacy and Leader Dogs For the Blind” event.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m-2 p.m at the National Railroad Museum.

Altrusa is an international nonprofit organization that has been supporting the Green Bay community for 92 years through service projects, community development fundraising, partnerships and more.

“Our main mission is literacy and partnering with other community organizations,” said President of Altrusa international of Green Bay, Nancy Barthel.

Barthel is one of 33 members of the Altrusa International of Green Bay and is in her fourth year as president.

To promote improving literacy and learning about blindness and sight impairment in the community, they decided to put together a “Literacy & Leader Dogs For the Blind” event with the help of other organizations.

Altrusa International of Green Bay is partnering with the Howard-Suamico Lions Club and several other community partnerships that will have different stations around the museum for people to learn from.

These organizations include local resource and volunteer centers, puppy raisers of service dogs organizations, blindness & disability support organizations and schools.

“The community partners who are coming in are really excited,” says Barthel.
Barthel explained how rewarding it has been to organize this event, stating “Getting to know community partners I didn’t know anything about and realizing how hard people work and the level of support people put out for these services.”

These stations include activities like literacy games, coloring stations for kids, white cane training where you learn about, a braille writer station which features how to write your name in braille, and stations that explain the types of services they have and how to get involved.

The Howard-Suamico Lions club will also be accepting donations like cell phones, eye glasses and hearing aids for the blind and sight-impaired individuals.

Up to 12 puppies that are in training to be leading dogs for the blind will be at different stations around the museum to interact with and learn about how their training works.

There will also be a theatre presentation with the leader dogs from 10:30 a.m-1 p.m and a “Leader Dog for the Blind” storytime from 11:15 a.m-12:30 p.m.
The Lions club will also be accepting Deer Antler donations for the Leader Dogs in training.

“I think this is going to be a really unique program because we have a bunch of community organizations whose goal is making a difference,” said Barthel.

Giveaways such as children’s books and dog safety coloring books will be provided.

Guests are also welcome to check the National Railroad Museum itself, which has recently expanded as well.

Admission to come to the “Literacy & Leader Dogs For the Blind” event ranges from $10-$15 depending on age. National Railroad Museum members receive free admission.

For more information on this upcoming event, please go to the greenbayaltrusahouse.org.