Saturday, January 28, 2012

"Kids Against Hunger" Meal Packaging Party and BBQ Social

The Kiwanis Club of East Orange County teamed up with over 100 young service-minded citizens to package nearly 4,000 meals for the children of Orange County Public Schools on Saturday, January 28th, 2012.  To do so, EOC Kiwanis partnered with "Kids Against Hunger", whose mission is to significantly reduce the number of hungry children in the USA and to feed starving children throughout the world. The organization’s approach to achieving its goal - the eradication of world hunger - includes the packaging of a highly nutritious, vitamin-fortified soy-rice casserole by volunteers at numerous locations within the USA and Canada, and the distribution of those meals to starving children and their families in over 60 countries through partnerships with humanitarian organizations worldwide. In 2009 alone, volunteers at Kids Against Hunger’s food packaging centers across the USA packaged over 48 million meals for children and their families around the world and around the corner.

EOC Kiwanis chose to donate our meals locally to food pantries through Orange County Public Schools.  Over 100 volunteers travelled to Fort Christmas Historical Park to participate in the packaging of the meals and a barbeque social, which was enjoyed by all.  Among the volunteers were Just 1 Book, UCF Circle K International, the UCF Delta Zeta Sorority, the Citrus Kiwanis Club, the Wildkat Aktion Club, the Legacy Middle School Builders Club, the Waterford Elementary School K-Kids, the East River High School BETA Club, National Honor Society, Varsity Softball, JV Boys Soccer, and many others. Over 3,900 meals were packaged in all, and thanks to our efforts, many local children will not go hungry on nights and weekends!


Several photos of the event can be found below:







Additional photos can be found on our EOC Kiwanis Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.334361869929959.85121.194147617284719&type=3

Friday, January 13, 2012

EOC Kiwanis Interclubs with Wildkat Aktion Club

Five members of the Kiwanis Club of East Orange County (Gene, LuAnn, Beth, Stacy, and Brent) visited the Wildkat Aktion Club on Thursday, 1/12 to help them plan their upcoming fundraiser and make valentines for their sweethearts.  Aktion Club is a special kind a Kiwanis club - for special individuals.  The Wildkat Aktion Club meets at the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida, and the Wildkat membership consists of high-functioning young adults with Down Syndrome.  They are a lively group who inspires all of us to be the best that we can - and that even the greatest of obstacles can be overcome.  We even got to see Peter (one of the Wildkats) get back together with his girlfriend Britney - it was a very touching moment.

Photos from the event are below:








The Wildkats will be joining us at the "Kids Against Hunger" Meal Packaging Project and BBQ Social at Ft. Christmas on 1/28.  We'll also keep our EOC Kiwanis membership posted when we schedule our next Interclub with the Wildkats!