The Greater Kingston Kiwanis Club had a very successful 2012, and 2013 will even be better.
Our Kiwanis Club put together another great Halloween Carnival. We served approximately 150 children and their parents with numerous games and lots of candy and cocoa donated by our local grocery stores and banks. Many people asked, “What is Kiwanis all about?” In a word, it’s all about kids, and since 1984 when our club was formed by Mike Wallace (Mike Wallace Park), a former Builders Club and Key Club member, children have been our focus. Pronounced “K-wan-nis,” we are an international service club dedicated to “improving the world one child and one community at a time.” Kiwanis serves children. That is why we are involved in making sure children have food, school supplies, Christmas toys, and the opportunity for family fun with such events as the Halloween Carnival and Santa’s Workshop. That is why Kiwanis is the major sponsor of the Kingston Boys and Girls Club and committed to giving college scholarships to teens who are also involved in serving their community.
The fourth annual Eve-ning of Romance (Valentine Gala) in support of the Boys and Girls Club is scheduled for 5 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Oak Table Café and the Firehouse Theater. There will be a silent auction, raffles and entertainment. Caring Clowns International will be on hand to assist, and a number of local artists and entertainers will help make the night one to remember. Champagne, chocolate and hors d’oeuvres will be plentiful and The Firehouse Theater will present the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” which will be fun to watch with champagne in your hand. You definitely don’t want to miss this event.
We had our annual Apple Cup Food Drive for Kingston Food Bank and ShareNet at the IGA and Albertsons Nov. 17, for our neighbors before Thanksgiving. Thank you to the community for helping stock the shelves for the holidays.
The Kiwanis Club donated more than 300 toys, books, and clothing items for Kingston teens at Christmas. One thing to mention is the collection bin opposite the IGA. This is an agreement with Waste Management and Kiwanis to collect papers for our Scholarship Foundation and they pay us for the paper. Please don’t put garbage there!
Next month, we will talk about a program one of our members, Margaret LeMay, is involved in with Kingston High School and our Key Club. We’ll also hear about new Kitsap County initiatives on drug dependency and mental health issues.
Finally, we have many businesses in town that support and want to be identified with Kiwanis Club projects but do not have time to volunteer. We have just the answer; a membership in “Kiwanis Business Partners.” The partner will receive a subscription to the Builder magazine, will have their business name listed in the magazine, and will have a decal to display showing their support for our community and kids. It costs $100 a year, and the magazine is distributed to more than one million people worldwide. Our first partner in Kingston is Pier-side Promotions, owned by David and Janice Kutz. Thanks for your support.
For all that feel they would be interested in these kinds of community events, Kiwanis invites you attend one of our meetings, at Oak Tree Table, Thursdays at 7 a.m. For more information please contact President Pat Bennett-Forman, 297-4849; or me, 297-4462.
— Contact columnist Bob Lee at GLENCARIN@aol.com.
