January 2022
Club News & Announcements
|
|
|
CLUBS FEATURED THIS MONTH: |
|
- Bellevue
- Creston
- Kearney Golden K
- Council Bluffs Downtown
|
|
- Clarinda
- Ames Golden K
- Grundy Center
- Atlantic
|
|
|
Kiwanis clubs provide recliners at Ronald McDonald House
During an Oct. 21 presentation to the Kiwanis Club of Bellevue, Ronald McDonald House CEO Lindsey Rai Kortan was asked about needs at the house. She mentioned that, in remodeling the 40 rooms, they had forgotten rocker/recliners.
The club’s board held an impromptu meeting and committed to the project of donating 40 recliners. With $4,000 in seed money for the $11,500 project, the club went into action. The club received grants from the Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District Foundation and the Cobalt Credit Union. Several individual members of the club donated $285 for a single chair. Through social media, the word went out asking other clubs in the district if they would be willing to contribute to the project. Clubs from Omaha and Lincoln donated funds. Governor Don Fritz from Lincoln purchased a chair too.
|
|
So, almost exactly two months after the board approved the project, 40 rocker-recliners were delivered the day before Christmas. Bill O’Donnell (pictured trying out one of the rockers), who suggested the idea to the club, took the lead on the project. He worked with Nebraska Furniture Mart to get the chairs at a 69 percent discount.
The donated rocker/recliners will be an excellent addition to all guest rooms, providing comfortable seating for family members as they heal together during their stay at Ronald McDonald House in Omaha. The house is available to any families living more than 60 miles from Omaha whose children are being treated at any Omaha area hospital.
This project came about from one simple question, “What can the club do for you?” The answer is that Kiwanis takes care of children. And thanks to all the other clubs and individual Kiwanians, the Bellevue club made it happen.
The Kiwanis Club of Bellevue performs about 25 service projects during the year, including their signature project, “Every Child A Swimmer,” and sponsors two service leaders programs.
Submitted by Don Glenn, Bellevue Kiwanis Club
|
|
Creston holds successful food drive, adds new members |
|
Creston Kiwanis Club held its annual Food Drive this past December, placing a grocery cart at 13 different business locations throughout Creston. Those carts were filled and Kiwanis members Craig Mittag, Chris Eaton, Kyle Wilson and Dave Abildtrup picked those carts up before the New Year and delivered the goods to the two local food pantries, MATURA Food Pantry and Creston Food Pantry. A special thanks was given to the food pantries for being so accommodating.
The club has added six new members in the past two months, bringing the club membership to 29. Five of the new members are pictured. They are from left, Aric Bishop (director at Gibson Memorial Library), Brian Davis (store director at Hy-Vee), Maggie McGehee (branch manager at Great Western Bank), Kaytee Scadden (credit analyst at First National Bank) and Denise Kuhns (director at the Family Fitness Center). Not pictured is Kendall Lange, nurse practitioner at Greater Regional Health. Club members are thankful to have added these key new members to the club.
Submitted by Kyle Wilson, Creston Kiwanis secretary
|
|
|
|
Kearney Golden K joins meal effort at Christmas |
|
Deanna Schwartz and Bob and Lou Maxson of Kearney's Golden K Kiwanis, volunteered on Christmas morning to prepare and/or deliver meals to approximately 1,500 people in Kearney. They were among approximately 100 volunteers that took part in the effort coordinated by Hot Meals USA.
Submitted by Lou Maxson, Kearney Golden K Kiwanis
|
|
Council Bluffs club donates to library project
Council Bluffs Downtown Kiwanis Club Members Donna Schoeppner, Diane Ostrowski, Jerry Sievers, George Smith and Mike Knedler present a donation to the Council Bluffs Public Library Director Antonia Krupicka-Smith and Youth Services Manager Anna Hartman. This $1,500 check is for its imagination library, a new children's program that they are starting.
Submitted by George Smith, Council Bluffs Downtown Kiwanis president
|
|
Clarinda hosts lighted parade, other seasonal activities |
|
The Clarinda Kiwanis Club has had a busy fall and early winter. The club sponsored a pre-school class, first by Zoom and later in person. Club members led activities with the students. The club also purchased Christmas gifts for the children and learned what they wanted most from Santa.
The annual poinsettia sale was a success with the club selling out of all of their allotted plants! The profits from this sale are used to purchase bicycle helmets which are given to the third grade students at three elementary schools in the area.
Lastly, the club sponsored and organized another successful Lighted Christmas Parade this year. The parade had been canceled last year due to COVID concerns. Everyone was excited to be able to have it this year, and the crowd of parade viewers was tremendous. It is always a highlight of the year and a wonderful way to start the holiday season.
Submitted by Rick Finch, Clarinda Kiwanis president
|
|
Golden K reports new members
Ames Golden K recently welcomed four new members to their club. Pictured are Golden K Sponsor Don Muff and new member Roman Lynch; Golden K Sponsor Pete Peterson with new members Mike Wheelock and Vern Greimann; and new member Anita Cody and Golden K Sponsor Doug Provow. For more information about Ames Golden K, please see their website www.amesgoldenk.org.
Submitted by Don Muff, Ames Golden K Kiwanis
|
|
Grundy Center club helps fill cupboards
On Dec. 18, Grundy Center Kiwanians kindly shared the Christmas spirit with 21 area families by providing food baskets to fill their cupboards. Ninety-nine children and adults in their families were served through this project. The retail value of the Christmas Food Baskets ranged between $190 and $270, depending on family size. Several local businesses and residents donated toward the project. Financial donations, as well as donations of food items, were received.
Grundy Center High School National Honor Society students packed the baskets at the local grocery store, Brothers Market.
Submitted by Tim Melloy, Grundy Center Kiwanis president
|
|
Atlantic Kiwanis reports December projects |
|
Kiwanis Club of Atlantic had a very busy December! Members again rang the bells for Salvation Army on the Saturdays prior to Christmas, and their family members helped as well. |
|
The club entered a tree in the festival of trees and took an active role in Atlantic’s Lighted Parade. Members distributed Kiwanis pencils and mini teddy bears to the children
In another project, the Head Start Families received extra food for the Holidays. Members ended the month with a Holiday Party on Dec. 30, where they brought and exchanged unwanted gifts.
Submitted by Janice Brown, Atlantic Kiwanis secretary
|
|
Share what your club is doing!!!!
Clubs are invited to share their projects and happenings. Article and photo submissions are due by the 1st of every month to NIKiwanisDistrict@gmail.com.
This newsletter is also available to view and print on the District Website, Click Here
QUICK LINKS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
