ANNUAL
SERVICE PROJECTS
Each year, our Kiwanis family joins together to provide community service and attend causes we support, providing more than 2,500 hours of service
and giving back to the community. By working together, we can accomplish more and create a bigger impact in areas that need it the most.
and giving back to the community. By working together, we can accomplish more and create a bigger impact in areas that need it the most.
The Dictionary Project
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Each November, our club members visit schools across Lapeer County and hand out Webster's Dictionaries to all 3rd grade students - approximately 850 each year. We teach the students about the dictionaries and also read them a book. The teachers then use the dictionaries for instruction before the children take them home.
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Our goal is to assist all students to become good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing them a gift of their own personal dictionary. Find out more about the project by visiting www.dictionaryproject.org.
Christmas Cheer
Christmas for Kids - Each year, our club provides a Christmas celebration for area students in need of a little extra holiday cheer. Students in grades kindergarten through 5th are hand-selected by their teachers to spend a few fun and exciting hours with our club members and Key Club members. We feed them lunch, sing songs, play games, do a craft, decorate cookies, and more. Each student leaves with a full belly, a gift from Santa, and a smile.
Christmas Caroling - Each year, club members and their families visit the residents of local nursing homes spreading Christmas cheer by singing Christmas carols. We stroll the halls of homes such as Suncrest and The Pines, and many of the residents join in on the caroling fun.
Holiday Depot - Each Christmas, we adopt 2-3 families in need through Holiday Depot. We provide these families with gifts to hand out to their children on Christmas morning as well as a full meal or two. Our members also donate non-perishable food and items which are distributed among the families.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing - Our club members have a great time supporting The Salvation Army and ringing the bell in Lapeer. The Salvation Army provides food, clothing, emergency assistance and other services to those in need. Every dollar raised in Lapeer County stays in the county.
Toys for Tots - Our club supports both the Lapeer and Flint Toys for Tots programs, providing gifts to families in need.
Christmas Caroling - Each year, club members and their families visit the residents of local nursing homes spreading Christmas cheer by singing Christmas carols. We stroll the halls of homes such as Suncrest and The Pines, and many of the residents join in on the caroling fun.
Holiday Depot - Each Christmas, we adopt 2-3 families in need through Holiday Depot. We provide these families with gifts to hand out to their children on Christmas morning as well as a full meal or two. Our members also donate non-perishable food and items which are distributed among the families.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing - Our club members have a great time supporting The Salvation Army and ringing the bell in Lapeer. The Salvation Army provides food, clothing, emergency assistance and other services to those in need. Every dollar raised in Lapeer County stays in the county.
Toys for Tots - Our club supports both the Lapeer and Flint Toys for Tots programs, providing gifts to families in need.
Jelly-Beans & Smiles
Kiwanis Club of Lapeer past-member, Julie Ann Caris, started “Jelly-Beans & Smiles” in 2009 with the mission of providing an Easter basket to children in need in the Lapeer community.
Since putting together that first basket, she, with the help of plenty of volunteers and countless community donations, has provided more than 15,000 Easter baskets to children in the Lapeer area. The Kiwanis Club of Lapeer has hopped on in ready to continue the tradition. With the help of other like-minded organizations in our community such as the Lapeer Optimist Club, we provide Easter baskets to as many children as we can. We are accept donations of completed Easter baskets, cellophane, and/or Easter-related items such as: - packaged candy - coloring or activity books - bubbles - sidewalk chalk - baseballs - playdough - crayons or markers Completed Easter baskets are donated to the children of Heartland Home Health Care & Hospice, Lapeer Area Citizens against Domestic Assault (LACADA), Family Literacy Center, Habitat for Humanity of Lapeer-Tuscola, The Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer, and other local non-profits. |
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McLaren-Lapeer Region
Our club has a long-standing tradition of providing support and comfort to children at the McLaren Lapeer Region Hospital. In years past, we have stuffed, stitched and clothed baby dolls for the pediatric patients. The little dolls, made entirely in Lapeer, were even stamped with "Made in Lapeer".
Currently, our club provides coloring books and crayons to children awaiting surgery in the pediatric pre-op department. This is a soothing and relaxing distraction and our hope is to assist children in adjusting to hospital life, thus speeding recovery.
Along with the coloring books, we also provide brand new books to newborn babies in the hospital to help get their home libraries started.
Currently, our club provides coloring books and crayons to children awaiting surgery in the pediatric pre-op department. This is a soothing and relaxing distraction and our hope is to assist children in adjusting to hospital life, thus speeding recovery.
Along with the coloring books, we also provide brand new books to newborn babies in the hospital to help get their home libraries started.
Lapeer High School Key Club
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Key Club is a self-governing, student-led high school organization with over 270,000 student members world-wide. The Lapeer High School Key Club consists of approximately 30 students student members. Key Club members receive guidance and support from adult volunteers including Kiwanis advisors, faculty advisors and district administrators. The Kiwanis Club of Lapeer encourages our members to be active by attending LHS Key Club meetings and giving assistance where needed; and we include key clubbers in our club activities as often as possible.
As a Key Club members, students learn how to lead and stand for what's right through service and volunteerism. LHS Key Club's main fundraiser each year is running concessions for the drama club performances. Key Club International selects a 'focus' each year such as clean water, reading, etc. The LHS Key Club centers their service projects around this focus each year. Past examples of their service projects include recycling/upcycling and environmental issue awareness, plastic bag mats made and delivered to third world countries, 9/11 Remembrance Day flags for the LHS lawn, animal rescue volunteering, meal packing, and more. |
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