The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from Committee chairs on various Kiwanis children and youth projects, at the club’s weekly meeting on Tuesday at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.
It was the monthly business meeting which was Tuesday’s regular meeting, where Kiwanis Committee chairs discussed the many activities respective committees are doing.
Funding Committee chair Randy Miller reported that applications are being accepted until September 15th, from other local non-profit organizations that focus on children and youth, for Kiwanis grants that will be awarded this fall. The application is available on the club’s Facebook page located at taylorvillekiwanis-dot-com.
Miller also reported that the club’s efforts to assist the Taylorville Food Pantry in collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations on Saturdays in July in the front parking lot of the Miller Media Group studios at 918 East Park, went well. 2 more Drive-Thru Donation Days are scheduled for September 9th and 16th.
Fund Raising chair Will Perkins reported that the annual Kids’ Day fund raiser with Kiwanis members stationed at the doors at Wal-Mart Super Center, as well as at the corner of West Main Cross and Webster, takes place September 22nd and 23rd. Bruce Blanshan is chairing this year’s Kid’s Day.
Perkins added the annual WRAN Kiwanis Radiothon, being chaired by Kiwanis president elect Chuck Martin, hits the air August 8th with the club netting over 12-hundred dollars from selling sponsors in the day of broadcasting. Kiwanis members will be live delivering sponsor commercials that day.
Kiwanis member Blain Cornwell is again heading up the annual fund-raiser of providing ticket takers at various gates for 2 days during the upcoming Illinois State Fair. Previous efforts have netted the club over one-thousand dollars.
Perkins also told the club the Fund Raising Committee will be meeting soon on additional fund-raising efforts to fund the Kiwanis mission of helping children and youth in the Taylorville community.
Kiwanis Park co-chairs Larry Kemner and Duane Stock shared with the club that the park recently got a summer clean-up and trim. They also are working to replace the main Kiwanis Park sign just off of Illinois Route 29 that is starting to fall apart due to its years in the weather.
Student Leadership chair Perkins reported that the incoming Taylorville High School Kiwanis Key Club President, Sophie Robinson, has reached out to him about attending some upcoming Kiwanis Club meetings. The Kiwanis Junior High Builder’s Club will also be formed once the new school year starts.
Kiwanis Priority One chair Blanshan reported he’s working on the annual campaign to collect anti-bacterial wipes, facial tissues and paper goods, to be given to teachers at Memorial School. Several local organizations assist in becoming collection locations including HSHS Medical Group, Taylorville Memorial Hospital, and Springfield Clinic. Kiwanis members will also be involved in collecting these items with more information forthcoming.
And, Blanshan is working with the Taylorville School District to expand the Kiwanis Club’s annual Coats for Kids drive, to enable more children to receive a warm coat, hat and gloves as we head into winter.
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.
