by David Landis
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines/Ocean City is working to accomplish the goal. There's a local program in Worcester County known as "Priority One" which focuses on helping children from pre-natal to age 5. In order to do that, there are collection cans placed at every table at the weekly meetings into which members put donations as they see fit. During the course of the year 2007, over $1500 was collected.
In addition, Mr. & Mrs. Claus, a.k.a. Kiwanian Al Kastner and his wife Carol, perform activities during the Christmas Season and donate whatever they receive to "Priority One" through the local Kiwanis Club. In 2007 that was an additional $450.
Worcester
GOLD (Giving Others Lives Dignity) is also a program in Worcester
County that helps children through their pantries
and toys for daycare rooms. In 2007 Kiwanis Club of Greater
OP/OC donated $1200 to that program. Pictured right is Dick
Jacobs of the local club, who is the liaison for the club
to both
Worcester GOLD and "Priority
One", updating club members at the weekly meeting at the Ocean Pines Country Club.In the interest of child safety, the Kiwanis Club printed and distributed and is continuing to distribute over 17,000 Safety Stickers for Car Seats. These stickers are available at local Maryland State Police barracks, elementary schools, day-care centers, Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce and various other locations. Contact Kiwanian, Al Kastner, at 410-641-5091 for information or stickers. Kiwanis recognized this program with an award to the local club.
In addition, the local Kiwanis Club sponsors clubs for school children with a K-Kids Club at Buckingham Elementary School in Berlin, MD; a K-Builders Club at the Berlin Intermediate School; and two Key Clubs, one at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin and the other at The Salisbury School in Salisbury, MD. In these clubs, the children and young adults learn how to serve their community and do fundraising in support or the community projects they choose.
Every year, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines/Ocean City holds numerous fundraisers in support of their Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships to deserving senior students at Stephen Decatur High School to further their education. Annual fundraising events are the 3 Pancake Breakfasts in February (this year on the 16th, 2008) in July and in October, the Italian Dinner in April, the Carolina Pork Barbeque in August, and the Golf for Scholarships Tournament and the Duck Race in September, and the Holiday Fruit Sale in December.
Helping Children is the business at hand, and it takes lots of members and their efforts to accomplish it. If YOU are interested in becoming a member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater OP/OC, contact Membership Chairman, Don Schmid, at 410-208-0219 or by e-mail at donrschmid@yahooo.com for information. It's open to men and women of all ages. Join Kiwanis and experience the gratitude and satisfaction of serving children and the community while enjoying the people with whom you serve.
