Massillon leaders, organizations on board to bring back Kiwanis Club
MASSILLON – After a hiatus from the area, the Kiwanis Club is making its return to the city.
Kiwanis International organizers have been making their rounds to city leaders and organizations stirring up interest in bringing back the club that focuses on helping children.
An organizational meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Kiwanis Park, 1414 Oak Ave. SE. Anyone interested in learning more about the club is invited to attend. The previous Kiwanis Club held its weekly meetings in the building at the park near Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Kip Crain, a Kiwanis member, is leading the charge to establish the club. He has met with Massillon Mayor Jamie Slutz, Massillon City School leaders, and organizations such as the Salvation Army and the Massillon Boys and Girls Club.
"We're only a member or two away from having the minimum but we want to keep going and try to get some additional members," said Crain, a member of the Wooster Kiwanis Club and superintendent at Wayne County Schools Career Center.
The mayor is pleased to see the club returning to the city and has pledged his support to do anything he can for the club's success.
Kiwanis International was established on Jan. 21, 1915, and has clubs in 87 countries, according to Kiwanis International representative Kathleen Moylan. The global organization is focused on "improving the world, one child and one community at a time."
On average, a member can impact the lives of 206 children each year, she said. Kiwanis members stage more than 150,000 service projects, devote more than 6 million hours of service and raise nearly $100 million annually for communities, families and projects.
"We are all about doing things for kids," Crain said. "We are trying to help the community and give them a chance to pay back and pay it forward."
Kiwanis often partners with local schools and community organizations to provide different programs such as safety towns and providing scholarships to students.
In Wooster, Crain said the organization has helped fund as many as nine playground improvement projects through the club's fundraising, as well as grants from the Children's Fund at the international level and the Ohio District Kiwanis Fund.
They have joined forces with the Key Club at the schools providing a food pantry and weekend backpacks for students.
The club is in its early stages and Crain will be there for the first year to guide the group and to help establish the name, meeting times and dues, and elect officers. The Belden Village Kiwanis Club will sponsor the new group. Its members also will guide the group during its early days.
Membership is open to anyone 18 and older who cares about kids and their community, Crain explained. Membership is from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.
As soon as the club gets up and running, Crain hopes to begin implementing programs.
"I'm really excited about bringing the new club (to the area) with individuals that care about kids and want to see the community do well," he added. "Our focus is on children and the community. We like to say we're an organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the lives in the community one child and one community at a time."
For more information, visit Kiwanis.org.
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Organizational meeting May 2 to establish Kiwanis Club in Massillon
