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Kiwanis in the news

Ohio | California | Michigan | Georgia

It’s not all about pancakes. From tidy, attractive landscaping for all to enjoy at Marietta’s middle and high schools, to maintenance of Lookout Park and the city’s Fitness Trail, to energetic youth clubs, the Marietta (Ohio) Kiwanis club is making good things happen, one pancake at a time. Between Friday and Saturday, 1,800 eager eaters are expected to devour hundreds of pounds of pancakes and sausages.

“The goal of this year’s fundraiser is to equal the successful Pancake Days last year: $17,600,” (Kiwanian) David Korodi said, “and to pass that success along to projects and organizations that benefit from Kiwanis.”

Among its activities, the 60-member club sponsors Key Clubs at Marietta, Frontier, and Warren high schools; a Builders Club at Marietta Middle School, and the Circle K Club at Marietta College.—Marietta Times

Backpacks help ease hurt. Police took possession of a mound of backpacks, piled high and stuffed full of valuable items. But this wasn’t confiscated contraband. A women’s group at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated the 24 backpacks for police to give to children who have witnessed traumatic events or have to be removed from their families because of neglect or abuse.

Church members, Ontario’s (California) Noontime Kiwanis club, and law enforcement of Ontario donated funding and items.—dailybulletin.com

Supporting the arts. Youth Art Month, celebrated each March at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, featured a youth art competition sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville (Georgia) and the Charles J. Thurmond Youth Scholarship Fund. In addition to this contest, all first place winners from grades six through 12 and a Director’s Choice winner went on to compete in the Kiwanis International Georgia District Art and Talent Showcase, April 28 at the Carrolton Cultural Art Center.”—The Gainesville Times

Club gives out dictionaries. More than 500 third-graders at four Macomb Township elementary schools each have a new dictionary, thanks to a project conducted by the Shelby-Macomb (Michigan) Kiwanis Daybreakers. Each year, Kiwanis’ Michigan District governor selects a program or organization for all (Michigan clubs) to support. This year, Michigan Kiwanis (Kiwanians) are assisting the Dictionary Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to help third-graders complete the school year as good writers, active readers, and creative thinkers.

“It was good to see what students have today,” said Don Hook, immediate past president of the Shelby-Macomb Daybreakers, about the visit to the schools. “It was an eye-opener.”—The Detroit Free Press