Brainerd Kiwanis Club member Stacy Landrum reads with fourth-grader Akeem Cosme at Woodmore Elementary. Reading with students twice a week is one of the many ways the club gives back to the school.Reading to students twice a week on campus? No problem.
Sponsoring and chaperoning field trips to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.? They’ve got it covered.
Providing monitors during TCAP testing? Consider it done.
The Brainerd Kiwanis Club put its time and money where its mouth is when it comes to community service. Last year alone, the 65-member club donated around $8,000 to Woodmore Elementary School and spent hundreds of hours volunteering – and the club is looking to repeat its efforts this year.
“Kiwanis clubs are an international service organization and our goal is to improve the world one child at a time,” said Brainerd Club president Bob Colby. “We feel like there’s no better place to go to try to impact the community one child at a time than a place where learning and development is so critical.”
The club has also helped with school cleanup projects, judged science fairs, purchased uniforms for emergency use, sponsored parties, started a K-Kids Club and is currently stocking the Eagle Buck Cart where students can purchase items with “money” they earn through good behavior.
“They have been a great partner,” said Woodmore guidance counselor Zena Buckley. “They really helped us fill in the gaps last year. They really do fill a great need in our school.”
For club member Jim Holloway, the best part of being involved with the school is getting to build relationships with the kids and watch them grow. But he also hopes the experience sparks something with the students.
“I hope when they grow up they’ll do the same thing because they saw the effect it had on them,” he said.
The Brainerd Kiwanis Club meets each Friday at noon at the Holiday Inn at Hamilton Place, located at 2232 Center St.