Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville

by Jim Hart

Charlottesville Kiwanis Club Spruces Up Ronald McDonald House. On October 24, the Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville dedicated its second Dick Fowler Memorial Service Work Night to the task of sprucing up the grounds of the Ronald McDonald House, a place where for 25 years pediatric patients and their families have been able to find affordable lodging while they are in town for medical treatment. Twenty enthusiastic Kiwanis volunteers performed yard work, light landscaping, gardening, and did some painting around the exterior of the beautiful three-story brick building located on a quiet street just two blocks from UVA Children's Hospital. Pictured is Legion of Honor member Bob Ribando steadying the ladder as past club treasurer Gordon Merrick takes community service to a higher level. Also pictured is club board member Ed Schmitz as he improves the look of the entrance way to the facility that has served as a welcome respite for families going through a period of stress and strain while their young loved ones are provided treatment at UVA.


Charlottesville Conducts "In-Meeting K-Family Service Night". The Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville held its third ever "K-Family In-Meeting Service Night", Monday evening, October 17, at the Elks Lodge. Nine members of the Circle K International (CKI) Club at the University of Virginia joined about thirty Charlottesville Kiwanians for an excellent meal, which was followed by a short meeting consisting of announcements about club business, a fifty-fifty drawing, and the always popular happy dollars. Then the youthful members of the service leadership program designed, organized, and supervised a unique intergenerational service project, which resulted in the creation of 30 "goody bags" especially for the children at UVA's Children's Hospital. It was especially heart-warming to see Kiwanians, who have not wielded crayons, glitter glue, or stickers in many, many decades, succeed in creating packages of fun, all bearing messages of encouragement for the community's children who are receiving treatment at UVA's fine Children's Hospital. Pictured are Kiwanians selecting toys and decorations for the goody bags under the watchful eyes of CKI members. The Kiwanians were encouraged by CKI members to let their creative juices flow in providing a custom-designed package of fun for the children we cherish so much.