South Arlington Club Supports Community Needs
by Harro Wulf, Secretary, Kiwanis Club of South Arlington

South Arlington was very busy during November and December doing Community Service Projects and providing financial support to local charities as well as supporting District and International Kiwanis Foundations.

Beginning in early November Jack Turner led the drive to fill Thanksgiving baskets with food and gift cards for poor families whose children attend Oakridge elementary school. Donations from Kiwanis members and our Community Service Program amounted to over $500. Again, in December Jack, working with the county social worker, enabled our club to play Secret Santa to several less fortunate Oakridge School families. Our Christmas gifts to the families and needy children included 50 pairs of gloves and mittens, several warm coats and caps, plus gloves and hat kits; food baskets, sweets, and several toys. Other Secret Santa items included gift cards to Target, Pizza Hut, and Giant Food stores amounting to $390.

Our club is equally proud of the over $5000 in donations made in 2008 to organizations in the community that provide help to children and services to the less fortunate. These included the following: Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs (AMEN), Arlington Pediatric Center, Arlington Free Clinic, Greenbriar Learning Center, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE), and the Shirlington Employment and Education Center (SEEC.) We can all feel thankful we had resources to help some of our neighbors in need.

Community Service funds are derived primarily from our Annual Auction/Social held the last Saturday in April at the Lyon Park Community Center in Arlington. This year's event will be on April 25, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Put it on your calendar. We hope to see lots of Kiwanians.

On December 12, 2008 nine club members participated in a ten-hour day of Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Fashion Mall in Pentagon City. This has become an annual event for our club and it is heartwarming to see the generosity of so many. Some people said the Salvation Army had helped them and they were giving back. Others applauded Kiwanis for their hands-on support. It was decidedly a good experience.

South Arlington Kiwanis meets at the Ft Myers Officers Cub on the first and third Thursday of each month. Because of the conflict with New Years Day our January meetings will be on January 8th and 22nd. Interclubs are welcome. Call John Marr, Interclub chair: 703-521-7678 to let us know you are coming.