Helping mothers, babies and children in developing countries has seen Altrusa Ashburton win the Dr Nina Fay Calhoun International Award.
The award presented at their recent conference was for support with international projects.
Members knitted woollen hats for babies at Victoria Fall Hospital in Ethiopia, crafted No Sew blankets for babies and children in Zimbabwe, and worked alongside Zonta Ashburton to pack Birthing Kits for mothers in emergency and humanitarian situations in areas of Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean.
International committee chair Julie McCullough said their club was fortunate to have contacts in district where goods were delivered personally to Zimbabwe.
The group made hats for Hats for Hamlin, a Ethiopian charity that supports mothers and babies.
About 35,000 babies are born in Ethiopia each year.
For some babies, receiving the knitted hat was the first item of clothing they had.
It was first time the group has contributed to this charity and 70 hats and blankets were made for the project.
‘‘It is heart wrenching to the read the stories and situations some of those we help are living in, so every little bit of clothing or bedding we can provide helps, they are gifts of love,” McCullough said.
Altursa members crafted hats at home, were together to make blankets and joined other service organisations to fund and make Birthing Kits, a project led by Zonta Ashburton in this district.
Learning about the situations recipients live in “makes you very thankful for the country we live in,” McCullough said.
The kits were some of the 2.9 million distributed through Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean via more than 30 organisations.
The No Sew Blankets were given to mothers in need at Victoria Falls Hospital, Zimbabwe through the Mummy’s Angels trust established in 2017.
‘‘Some families have nothing at all, and our club feels very humbled to be able to contribute these colourful blankets to needy families,” McCullough said.
