The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard about the Awana Worldwide Childrens’ Clubs, during their weekly meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge on Tuesday.

Don Beetem, Senior Pastor at the Evangelical Free Church in Taylorville, shared with Kiwanis members about the Awana Club and its local chapter held each Wednesday evening during the school year at his church, saying it was founded over 70 years ago right here in Illinois.

Beetem added the Taylorville Awana Club sponsored by his church, started in 2003 and offers Bible-based programs to 3 age groups between ages 4 and 12. While attendance peaked into the 50’s before COVID, attendance is in the 30’s each week now but climbing.

Beetem said the Awana Club at his church is now attracting interested children by using 2 buses to pickup and deliver them to and from their homes each week.  He added the bulk of children attending are unchurched.

The public is reminded to attend this Saturday’s annual Kiwanis Pancake and Sausage Day from 6:30am to 11am at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  Both in-person dining and drive-up orders will be available. Proceeds benefit Kiwanis programs for children and youth in the Taylorville community, including Coats for Kids, Kiwanis Park, YMCA and high school scholarships, and grants for other local non-profit groups that focus on children.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.