La Porte Service League is expanding its volunteer efforts to benefit the community as it enters its 81st year.
The nonprofit organization was founded in March 1932 with a focus on social, economic, educational, cultural, and civic volunteerism. As in the beginning, each member spends at least 50 hours contributing to community service projects. These include tutoring sessions at Handley School, Meals on Wheels deliveries, Bingo parties at the county home, bell ringing and cooking meals for the Salvation Army, collecting household items and purchasing diapers for Womens’ Care Center.
President Alex Martinsen said, “La Porte Service League is a wonderful organization that is dedicated to volunteer efforts to support our community.”
The group currently is working with the La Porte Library to present multiple fun sessions for children in preparation of presenting a mini-play during Lights Out at the Library on October 25.
Member Julie Pitman has coordinated a series of classes focusing on theater arts – including makeup, accents, costuming, poster production and mock sword play. Each week the children practice the skills, building toward presentation of two brief pirate-themed plays during the annual Lights Out event.
La Porte Service League has a long history of bringing cultural plays to county students. Work will begin soon on the annual school play, which will be held in January 2014 in the La Porte High School auditorium. League members provide all aspects of the production, from set building to sound.
In addition to supporting the arts, the organization will again provide a dental project in each preschool classroom in La Porte Community Schools. Students will receive dental health kits and instruction on preventive care, tied in to the American Dental Association’s “Give Kids a Smile” program, which is conducted throughout February each year during National Children’s Dental Health Month.
The kits include toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss, and instruction will be offered on proper brushing technique and nutritional guidance. Members will visit the classrooms in costume and character to make the presentations entertaining as well as informational.
The League also plans to continue its popular Trivia Night event in April 2014. Funds raised help to provide scholarships and recognition to local students, including:
The La Porte Service League Scholarship is given to a high school senior who plans to major in theater, music, radio or TV direction or production, communications or a related field in fine arts. 2013 recipients were Paige Pope, Jenna Diehl and Meaghan Murphy, and all are attending Purdue University.
The Kitty Wolf Scholarship honors dedication to the arts. It was given to Victoria Hooley, who is attending Anderson University
The Frances M. Rumely Memorial Award of Excellence is given annually to the senior woman who ranks first among the members of her class in all-around womanly qualities, including intellectual ability; steadfastness of character; capacity for leadership; and distinguished service to school and community. This year’s recipient, Kayla Dunbar, is attending Purdue University.