Staff
The local Kiwanis Club will hold a “Spring for Spaghetti” dinner next Wednesday (May 29) to raise funds in support of its projects.
The supper will run from 5-7 p.m. at the Little Beaver Cultural Centre.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids aged six-12 (those five and under are free).
The menu will include spaghetti (with a choice of meat or meatless sauce), garlic bread, Caesar salad, dessert, coffee/tea, and dessert.
Patrons can get spaghetti dinners “to go” if they so choose.
There also will be door prizes.
“I am hoping we’ll get people out,” said Kiwanian Diane Maxey, adding all proceeds will benefits local Kiwanis projects.
She explained the Kiwanis focus on programs for children and youth, such as the Builders Club, although they will help with most other causes when asked.
Kiwanis sponsors a reading program at the local public library, sponsors and delivers “Meals on Wheels,” sponsors families at Christmas through the local Salvation Army, sponsors youth going out of the country on service missions, and sponsors and organizes the annual Good Friday breakfast.
It also sponsors the Builder’s Club (which builds volunteers and leaders for the future), sponsors bursaries for Fort Frances and Rainy River High School graduates, and subsidizes youth from various church denominations to attend Sunny Cove Camp to the tune of $18,000 a year.
This summer, Kiwanis is sponsoring the beautification of one of the courtyards at Rainycrest.
The club also is looking to make its final payment for the digital mammography unit at La Verendrye Hospital (it made a $10,000 pledge over three years).
Kiwanians also help out at the breakfast program at Robert Moore and Fort High’s annual “chem-free” grad, hold a steak fry at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship each year, run the “Trip of the Month” draw, and recently volunteered at events like the art auction fundraiser and spaghetti dinner, both held at Robert Moore School.
Maxey stressed that nearly all of the money raised stays local. One exception is Project Eliminate MNT (Maternal Neonatal Tetanus), which helps mothers and newborn children in Third World countries and, by 2015, worldwide.
Under Project Eliminate MNT, just $1.80 pays for vaccines to save one life.
This is a $110-million joint effort between UNICEF and Kiwanis around the globe.
While providing these programs and supporting these projects are their own reward, the Kiwanis’ efforts have not gone unnoticed.
For instances, the local club will be receiving two awards at the Kiwanis annual general meeting in Medicine Hat, Alta. on Aug. 13.
The club is being honoured with an award for “District Distinguished Club” for 2011-12, as well as an award for membership growth.
The local Kiwanis grew by 18-20 members in 2011-12, the most of any Kiwanis Club in Canada.
That said, Kiwanis always is looking for new members. Just contact any Kiwanian to find out how to join.
