The PHS ASTRA club is affiliated with Altrusa International of Pendleton. With about 45 student members, it is the largest service club at Pendleton High School. Last school year (2023-24), Club President Kyah Hunter and Service Chair Torie Estrada applied for and received a grant in the amount of $748 from the Altrusa International Foundation’s project grant, based in Chicago. The grant was for cancer care kits to give comfort to patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatments in Pendleton. Club President Hunter wanted to honor and remember her softball pitching coach, Jordan Bennett, who passed away from cancer at a very young age.

The grant monies were combined with a donation from an Altrusan, who furnished the colorful bags. The bags contained small, fleece lap blankets, crossword and sudoku puzzle books, lip balm, hand cream, and other small items to provide comfort to patients receiving treatment. Brielle Bonzani, this year’s ASTRA Club President, and Service Chair Max Ross, along with other club members, donated the items to the CHI St. Anthony Cancer Clinic for distribution to patients undergoing treatment.

ASTRA members shared that the staff, director of the clinic, and patients were blown away by the quality of the donation.

In addition to this project, the PHS ASTRA club received first place for the project “Fun and Games: Developing Intergenerational Connections” at the ASTRA District 12 Convention in May. They received a service award certificate and $425 toward their club budget for the year for winning the award.

Their project, “Fun and Games: Developing Intergenerational Connections,” served the residents of Sunridge Assisted Living in Pendleton. The students visited residents for four months, played board games, decorated Christmas cookies, and made Valentine’s Day cards with the residents.

The PHS ASTRA club was chartered 20 years ago in Pendleton by Altrusan Debbie McBee, who served as the last district governor for District 12. ASTRA students are mentored by a group of Altrusan advisors and volunteer to complete multiple service projects in the community.