Contests award amazing feats, hands-on service

In virtually every city of the world there are people in need. In Bridgeton, Missouri, a group called Community Helping Ministries—of which the Bridgeton Kiwanis club is a member—comes to the aid of the downtrodden. And this past school year, the group’s efforts were bolstered by the Bridgeway Elementary School K-Kids club.

This drawing by Kolbee Tibbets of the Heyburn (Idaho) Elementary School K-Kids club took first-place in the 2006-07 K-Kids Art Contest.

Bridgeway Elementary School K-Kids collect items to help the homeless in their community. Their project won top honors in the Club Single Service Award category of the 2006-07 K-Kids contests.

The K-Kids club launched a school-wide drive, collecting 40 boxes of food and cleaning and grooming items for the city’s impoverished. “It was satisfying to help people in our own community,” says faculty advisor Madaleaze Cramer. “We hope some people ate better, had a better holiday season.”

Meanwhile, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, the K-Kids club at Randolph Elementary School was conducting a collection drive of its own. During the month of November, the club teamed up with the Builders Club of Saint Katherine Drexel School to collect educational toys, games, puzzles, and more than 600 books to be shipped to Mississippi schools damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Though separated by 340 miles, the two K-Kids clubs have something in common besides a caring spirit; their altruism garnered top honors in the Club Single Service Award category of the 2006-07 K-Kids contests.

Art: Prepare a drawing that demonstrates how one K-Kids member can make a difference.