SERVICE SHOWCASE

ANSWERING THE CALL

Crofton Kiwanis member John Hill is pictured in front of Giant Food on Dec. 3 at the Salvation Army of Annapolis red kettle raising holiday money for needy families. Crofton Kiwanis volunteers are ringing the bell at Giant Food for 28 hours over four pre-Christmas Saturdays.

SNACK BAGS FILL IMPORTANT NEED

One of the organizations the Kiwanis Club of MidlothianChesterfield supports is Communities In Schools. Their mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school.

Some of the elementary schools Communities In Schools supports serve lunch very early or late in the day. In those schools, many of which are located in low-income neighborhoods, students are often not is a position to bring something from home. Snack bags help fill that need.

On Oct. 25, following the Kiwanis meeting, 21 Kiwanis members prepared 550 snack bags for those students. According to Kiwanian Wayne Compton, “it was fun, it was fellowship and, most importantly, it helped fill a critical need for kids in underprivileged situations.” Kiwanis makes a difference!

HOLIDAY SPIRIT THRIVES IN OCEAN CITY

It’s already been a very busy holiday season for Ocean Pines-Ocean City Kiwanis.

Two annual drives were coordinated in November, collecting coats and toys, respectively, from club members. More than 350 coats and three SUV loads of toys were contributed.

Worcester County “Giving Other Lives Dignity” (GOLD) Program Coordinator Taylor Carly and Executive Director Nicholas Cranford are pictured with a portion of the toys after they were delivered by Kiwanians.

On Nov. 23, the club met with K-Kids from Showell Elementary, their parents and teacher Evy Collins to decorate two trees for the community Christmas Tree Display prior to the area’s Lighting Ceremony held the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The K-Kids (pictured) decorated their tree and also helped the Kiwanis Club finish its tree. Most of the ornaments were made by the K-Kids, including those on the Kiwanis Club tree.

Ocean Pines also held a very wellattended community “Breakfast with the Grinch” event on Dec 3. Pictured are (L-R) Barbara Peletier, batter mixer and sausages cook Dave Landis, The Grinch, and pancake flipper Mike Castoro.