LaPlata Club

by Judi Gorney

The Kiwanis Club of LaPlata has been very busy over the past few months. We have worked many hours helping in our community doing some wonderful things.

Over the past several years, we have been collecting non-perishable food items at each of our meetings. Jonnie and Gordon Mann make sure they get to Lifestyles of Southern Maryland and Angel's Watch Homeless Shelter for distribution. Last year alone, we collected over 500 items. We expect this successful project will continue to be a Club project in 2010.

Throughout November and December, several of our Club members were busy selling our collectible holiday ornaments in one of our local grocery stores. Several merchants in and around LaPlata also participated in the sale of our ornaments by selling them in their stores. In addition to our very successful ornament fundraiser, we also sold coloring books during the holiday season. These are great coloring books because they are about three and a half feet tall so the children can lie on the floor while coloring in them. The money raised by these fundraisers help to fund our Club's donations throughout the year.

Our Club participated in the Town of LaPlata's Old Tyme Holiday Gathering again at the Town Hall. We had a table that promoted Club membership and talked to folks about Kiwanis. Going to these functions is always a fun experience. We love spreading the Kiwanis' name and telling people about our Club. We held a drawing for a few children's books. Our winner's picture will be in the next Ebuilder!

Another successful fundraiser we held in November and December was gift wrapping at Borders Books. Borders invites local civic organizations to come and man their gift wrapping table for their customers. They provide the materials needed to wrap gifts while we supply the manpower. We found this was a great way to get out into the community spreading cheer and helping others.


(Above) At the Town Hall in LaPlata, MD for the Holiday Gathering, pictured left to right,
Emily Ferren, President of Kiwanis Club of LaPlata; Judi Gorney, member of Kiwanis Club of LaPlata; Jim Gorney, Director of Kiwanis Club of LaPlata.


(Above) Wrapping at Borders Books for the holidays, pictured left to right, Judi Gorney, member of KCLP; Amanda Hill, Director KCLP


(Above) KCLP member Dawn Roach is ready to wrap up a Christmas gift!


(Above) Toys and clothing collected by KCLP members during the holiday season for Christmas Connection in Charles County.