ROCKWALL COUNTY, TX (June 26, 2014) The Kiwanis Club is an international group dedicated to serving children. The local Rockwall County Kiwanis Club may be a smaller sized club, but they are making a large impact on the local children.
Currently, their biggest project is “Food for Kids”. Started just over one year ago, the goal of this project is to provide meals for children who may otherwise go hungry. The Rockwall Kiwanis Club recognized that some of these children miss meals on the weekends and during the summer when school is not in session. Former president Glen Farris began to take action against this need and started Food for Kids in March of 2013.
In the beginning, 150 dinner and 50 breakfast meals were assembled and taken to the Boys and Girls Club. The breakfast meal includes an envelope of oatmeal , non-perishable milk, a 100% fruit juice drink, a fruit cup, and a snack. The dinner meal is similar, but the oatmeal is replaced by a main entrée such as macaroni and cheese or Beeferoni. That month 92 meals were handed out to qualified children. The program has now expanded and includes meals that are distributed through Helping Hands. The number of meals assembled has risen from 150 to between 300 and 400.
With all the success the project has experienced, current president Gary Cole still feels that Kiwanis could be accomplishing more but funding is limited. There is no current state or federal funding for this project and the club relies solely on its annual Tri-Rock Triathlon, Christmas Parade, and business sponsorships to raise enough money to purchase the food.
Misti Potter, director of the Girls and Boys Club, personally sees the effect of handing out these meals and says there is a “high level of gratitude and appreciation for the meals families receive,” all the more strengthening the fact that this beneficial project desperately needs more funding to keep providing for the kids.
During the year the club participates in many other events geared at giving back to the community. One very rewarding program is the Angel League. This is a twice a year baseball season where children with special needs and adults can play in a baseball game. At the end of each season there is a banquet where dinner is served and trophies awarded.
Terrific Kids is another program that honors children who have displayed good citizenship behavior. Each month during the school year members meet at an elementary school and hand out rewards to children chosen by their teachers.
The Kiwanis Club is also a charter sponsor of the Rockwall County Boy Scout Troop #309. They produce the annual Christmas Parade and Tri-Rock Triathlon, as well as participate in the Harbor Halloween event.
The club is always looking for new members or sponsors or donations. Meetings are held at the Rockwall Wedding Chapel every Tuesday at 12:00 pm. Lunch is catered and twice a month the program includes a guest speaker from a local organization.
Go to the club website at rockwallkiwanis.org or Facebook.com/RockwallKiwanis or call (972) 722-6001 for more information.
Meeting agenda:
1st Tuesday is general business meeting
2nd Tuesday is packing meal for Food for Kids
3rd and 4th Tuesdays are for guest speakers
Christine Davis, (469) 338-5022; email: Davis5255@hotmail.com
President – Gary Cole, (903) 217-3724; email: Gcole44@yahoo.com
Submitted by Christine Davis of the Rockwall Kiwanis Club.
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