Division 20 Kiwanis-Family Service Project

by Jeffrey Wolff, Kiwanis Lt. Governor

Make a Child Smile! That was the theme of the Kiwanis-Family service project performed by a group of 85 Kiwanis, Key Club and CKI members at the Salvation Army in Arlington, Virginia on September 12, 2009.  Held immediately following the monthly Kiwanis Division Council Meeting that morning, the service project focused on four in-house hands-on service projects allowing members to produce a variety of objects to make the time spent by children in hospitals a little easier. Three of the projects focused on starting and completing the objects involved including:

Trauma dolls, which are blank white fabric dolls that allow the children who receive them to decorate them as they wish and make them their own Activity kits, a decorated paper bag filed with a variety of toys, puzzles and games and a Get Well card. Storybook Sock Puppets, a sock turned into a famous storybook character with yarn, cloth and markers which parents can use while reading stories to their children.

In addition the group participated in Glories Happy Hats, which allows participants to work on any of 12 steps to take simple pieces of fabric and through folding, cutting, sewing and decorating become a hat that kids can wear and feel just a little better about their situation.  This project was facilitated by one of the founders, Susan Carlson-Khorsand.

All of the finished goods will be delivered to area hospitals in the coming weeks by many of the CKI members who participated in producing them. On behalf of all the children who will smile a little more as a result of the work done, thank you to everyone who participated.