WHO ARE THE RURITANS?

We are a group of community minded citizens joining together to meet community needs while embracing the Ruritan motto of Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service.
What do we do?
Ruritan’s purpose is to create a better understanding among people, and, through volunteer community service, make America’s communities better places in which to live, work, and raise families. Club membership represents a cross-section of the community in which the club serves and is not restrictive with regard to occupation, social-position, or any other specific criteria. We do this by organizing ourselves into several Community Service Committees, each with specific areas of interest. Every club member serves on one or more committee.
Recent Club Events
Gloucester Samaritan Group Donation
Abingdon Ruritan Club supports the Gloucester Samaritan Group who provides temporary financial assis…
Gloucester Rowing Association Donation
Abingdon Ruritan Club supports the Gloucester Rowing Association (GRA). It is a nonprofit associatio…
ARC Support for Gloucester Parks
Abingdon Ruritan Club continues to support Woodville Park annually, located at 3904 Woodville Park R…
Guinea Heritage Donation
The Guinea Heritage Association is a well-developed organization that honors the culture, watermen, …
Shred Truck Event
The Environment Committee, Abingdon Ruritan Club, hosted their first ever two-hour Shredder event in…
Abingdon Ruritan Club’s Renowned Blue Bird Boxes
The Abingdon Ruritan Club is renowned for making beautiful blue bird houses. The Club uses a number …
Circle of Friends Donation
Abingdon Ruritan Club makes an Annual Donation to Circle of Friends, an organization that helps the …
Union Baptist Church Donation
One of the many organizations supported annually by the Abingdon Ruritan Club is the Union Baptist C…
Girls and Boys Club
The Gloucester Boys and Girls Club is located at 7066 Hayes Shopping Center, Hayes, Virginia. They p…
Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic Donation
One recipient of Abingdon Ruritan Club donations each year is the Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic. Th…
Bread for Life
Bread for Life is a great organization where you can shop in a managed environment for fresh fruits …
ARC June Guest Speaker
At the Abingdon Ruritan Club June Membership meeting, the Guest Speaker was Homer Lanier of the Jame…
Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church Food Donation
Abingdon Ruritan Club collected over 70 pounds of food at the June Membership Meeting. It was delive…
ARC helps with SOL Testing
Abingdon Ruritan Club Members support Parents of Achilles Elementary School Students. On June …
Chesapeake District Golf Tournament
Abingdon Ruritan Club excels in Chesapeake District Golf Tournament. Meet the Fearsome Foursome: fro…
New Member at the ARC May member meeting
Abingdon Ruritan Club welcomed new member Jim Bradbury to membership at the May 11th Membership Meet…
Guest Speaker on Oysters
The guest speaker for the Abingdon Ruritan Club May Membership Meeting was Jim Dall, Secretary of th…
Ruritan National 98th Anniversary
The 98th Anniversary of Ruritan was observed Saturday, May 16th, at Holland, Virginia. It was …
Ruritan Sunday

Ruritan Sunday
“Except for my family and church, Ruritan is most important to me.”
This expression is heard frequently when Ruritans meet and reflects the kind of persons that make up the membership of Ruritan Clubs. Most are solid citizens with deep religious convictions. When Ruritan started in Holland, Virginia on May 21, 1928, the leaders of that small community gathered with the hope that the fellowship at the monthly evening meal would lead to a spirit of goodwill between the “town folk” and the farmers; i.e. urban and rural. The motto, “Fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service” indicates a growth in the concept of the club purpose that caused its ideal to grow from the original fellowship to become the most active civic service organization in America in terms of service to the community.
Much of the community service provided by Ruritan Clubs
during their history has benefited churches; particularly small and beginning churches.
It is appropriate, therefore, that this day of worship be designated as “Ruritan Sunday” in honor of these thousands of dedicated persons who have given of themselves to make the churches stronger and the communities better places in which to live and
work.
CREATING THRIVING COMMUNITIES
ACROSS AMERICA
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