Restored Kiwanis Club in Wayne Will Make a Spring Debut

The city of Wayne is seeking to introduce a newly revived Kiwanis Club and wants to make it known that they are actively looking for anyone interested in becoming a member. Kiwanis Clubs are community-based service organizations that search out opportunities to give back to their communities. The city of Wayne did have a Kiwanis Club in operation nearly a decade ago but the club floundered and eventually ceased to exist. Then earlier this year, city leaders were approached by Kiwanis of Michigan representatives about reviving the club once more. Wayne City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Alfred Brock welcomes the effort adding, "We're partnering right now with several other volunteer organizations and having the Kiwanis come in with their cooperative effort model, I think one of the things they're going to do for us is to help everyone communicate with each other regularly and in a positive way. They're also focused on improving things for children and communities one child at a time, which is their main focus. We're very interested in having activities for children in the city of Wayne that are safe, easy to access, and that are family-friendly. The Kiwanis seem to be geared just for that."

Kiwanis Clubs originated in Detroit in 1915 as a club for businessmen. As the club grew, it changed its focus from business networking to service-specifically service to children- in 1919. Today there are Kiwanis Clubs in more than 80 nations and geographic locations. Every year Kiwanis members organize more than 240,000 service projects and raise more than $300 million for children, families, and communities around the globe.

The Michigan District Governor for Kiwanis Renea Callery says the group's mission is to give back to communities and serve the children of the world. Kiwanis accomplishes this goal by organizing and supporting literacy programs, clothing and book giveaways, food drives, and community projects. Kiwanis also partners with schools to support educational activities and developing Kiwanis Youth Clubs beginning at the elementary level to help young people discover the satisfaction of helping others and being part of a team to accomplish a goal. . "I'd like readers to understand the passion that Kiwanians have to give back to the community and our children. Other organizations will reach out to us, any non-profit that needs help. In the schools, Kiwanis is there also trying to improve the literacy and the lives of the children based on the community that they live in and what the school wants to bring in," she says. "It's basically if there's a need and we can fulfill it for you, we will."

Callery emphasizes that one need not be a resident of Wayne to join the Kiwanis club now forming there. Fifteen paid members are required to establish the club and she adds that 12 individuals have already signed up and paid their yearly dues of $100 to join. The new club will meet on Thursday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Historic Oddfellows Hall, located at 6221 Merriman Road. Anyone who is interested or curious about Kiwanis is welcome to attend. To find out more about Kiwanis go to https://k12.site.kiwanis.org/ or visit the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WayneMIKiwanis.