Valley Kiwanis club works to fill community’s needs

Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club members make a point of putting volunteer hours behind the dollars they give to community causes.

The club’s president, Dan VerHeul, described a strong membership of 60 to 65 people supporting a number of projects for children and senior citizens. Members gather for an hour at 6:45 a.m. every Tuesday at Shari’s Restaurant on Sullivan Road.

Club members volunteer once a month at the Spokane Valley Food Bank. A few members might tend the yard of an elderly person in need of assistance, or they might help teach parents about proper installation of child safety seats.

“We want to be involved,” said VerHeul. “It’s too easy to just give money. We believe you should also give of your time.”

As with other Kiwanis clubs, the Spokane Valley group’s major focus is helping children in the community.

The club supports a wide variety of organizations and charitable causes.

It sponsors a room’s upkeep at the Anna Ogden Hall shelter for women and children, as well as student scholarships, Key clubs for students at University and Central Valley high schools and the regional Kiwanis “Paint a Helmet” program, which supplies free bike helmets for kids.

The club also supports Valley Meals on Wheels, Valleyfest, the Centennial Trail, the YMCA skate park, Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House, Upward Bound and Crosswalk, among other programs.

Usually three times each month, the group’s weekly breakfast meeting includes speakers who talk about community issues, such as youth suicide prevention.

This is the time of year the club does major fundraising work through its Sea Galley booth at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, including Aug. 17-19 at the Good Guys’ Hot Rod and Custom Car Show and Sept. 7-16 at the Spokane Interstate Fair.

Funds raised at the booth – about $20,000 – are used to support community projects throughout the year. So far this year, the club has given out about $18,200.

Club members are working on additional plans to support youths, VerHeul said.

Members are heavily involved in supporting students in the ninth through 12th grades who want to attend Key Leader Camp on Oct. 4-6 at Chewelah Peak. The camp, which provides opportunities for leadership training, will be the first of its kind in Eastern Washington.

Families who want more information can check online at www.key-leader.org.

Spokane Valley Kiwanis members also plan to sponsor an Adams Elementary School K-Kids program teaching about community service.

Overall, VerHeul said, Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club offers opportunities to help others and have fellowship with other people who are motivated to serve.

“We cleaned up Mica Cemetery, and it brought it to the attention of others that this is an issue. We find things that are needed – from mowing an elderly person’s lawn to building ramps – and do them.”

Club members come from diverse backgrounds: dentists, Realtors and retired school administrators, among others. People who are involved range from age 30 to retirement years.

“We have people from different backgrounds, a broad base. We have a lot of input, and we seek out things to do in the community. Our main emphasis is children and also senior citizens,” VerHeul said.

“We also like to have fun, so we have social events.

“There are always opportunities to get involved, even if you’re busy,” he said. “We have people who can help only for a limited time, and that’s OK.”