Bainbridge Island Kiwanis Club is More than Saturday’s Annual Shred Fest, Plus, Solarize Bainbridge Workshop, More Earth Month Events

The Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge Island is holding its annual Shredfest on Saturday April 25 in the parking lot of the former American Marine Bank branch across from Safeway on High School Road. It’s a place you can rid your business or household of old tax documents, personal information and other materials to protect yourself from possible Identity Theft. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

But the Kiwanis Club is more than just the Shredfest. The organization is essentially three clubs in one, with one goal: “improving the world one child and one community at a time,” says long-time member and Windermere real estate agent Chris Miller. Kiwanis is comprised of the club that meets on a weekly basis, the Key Club, which is made up of high school students, and the Builders Club, a community service group that does projects out of its home base of Woodward Middle School.

For the newly initiated, the Bainbridge Island chapter of Kiwanis Club International was established in 1958, with the Bainbridge High School chapter of Key Club International originating in 1991.

The aforementioned Builders Club has student officers, who work closely with faculty advisers Patti Bredy and Danielle Lin. The Kiwanis Club sponsors the Builders Club by providing it “with support and helpful advice to further students leadership skills and effectiveness,” says Lin, speaking on behalf of her student. “They support Builders Club service projects, offer special events to partake in, and teach important life lessons.”

For example, throughout this current school year, the Woodward Builders Club has done any number of projects to help the community. “One of our big projects was their annual Helpline House food drive, ” notes Lin. “We organized and collected over 2000 pounds of food for our local food bank.  For another project we collaborated with Kidzz Helping Kidzz to gather more than 600 brand new toys for children in the hospital.”

“Builders Club is an amazing opportunity to embrace the community around us and aid others,” Lin continues. “Membership is open and encouraged to all Woodward students grades 7-8. Signing up is not required to join Builders Club, and any interested students are welcome to stop by for a meeting! The club meets every Thursday before school, starting at 8:20 a.m. in room 202, at Woodward Middle School.” As the students say, “help support your community and grow your leadership knowledge by joining Builders Club!”

Meantime, the Kiwanis’ Key Club is a high school organization that partners with local Kiwanis clubs to create a community centered around service. With thousands of Key Clubs in over 45 countries, its impact can be felt worldwide. Its goal is to “build compassionate leaders who serve their local communities, with each club deciding what their region’s need most,” says Faculty Advisor Burton Shields, speaking for the students.

While Key Club is a part of an international organization, the club’s mission is to help the local district. It holds an annual food drive for Helpline House, where it has gathered more than 4000 pounds of food in the past two years. Alongside various independent activities like beach and campus clean-ups, Key Clubbers partner with organizations like Toys for Tots to collect and organize toys. At its most recent meeting, it made 20 new dog toys for the Kitsap Humane Society.

The club is open to students in grades 9-12 and it meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month. Attend one of its meetings (located in the BHS library) at 3:20 and “join us in helping our community. We can’t wait to see you there!” students says.  Some Key Club board members include Stella Tostenrude: Vice President Adelaide Scott: Treasurer Lily Vignero: Secretary and Brooke Donaldson: Editor. More info: https://www.bainbridgekeyclub.org/

“The Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge Island is dedicated to changing the world by serving children—one child and one community at a time, Miller adds. “To expand our impact, we sponsor Kiwanis student leadership programs (SLP) including:  Builders Club at Woodward Middle School and Key Club at Bainbridge High School and holds a number of annual events. These include:

• 

  Offerng Scholarships

• Educator of the Year
• Shredfest
• The Scotch Broom Parade
• Grand Old Fourth Parade and Putt-Putt Golf, and,
• The ever popular All Comers Track Meet in July and August

“Besides our annual events, we also offer support to other island organizations geared towards kids, Miller further explains.  “Why not make it a family affair and encourage your child to join Builders Club at Woodward Middle School, the Key Club at the High School, and yourself to join the Kiwanis Club at the same time so the family can make the journey together, improving the world, one child and one community.”

For more information about Kiwanis, visit:  Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge Island – Kids Need Kiwanis

Solarize Bainbridge Workshop, Wednesday, April 22, 6-7:30pm, at BI City Hall – Learn more about Solarize Bainbridge Island, a solar education and group purchasing program sponsored by The City of Bainbridge Island and Olympia Community Solar. Find out the basics of solar and if it’s right for your home. Get all your questions answered directly from local installers in this free public workshop. For more info, go here or listen to recent podcasts that Ben Silesky (Olympia Community Solar) and Mike Cox (COBI Climate Committee chair) did with BIStander and the BI Senior Community Center.

Check out all the activities happening during the remainder of Earth Month: Earth Month Bainbridge Island – Sustainable Bainbridge

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