Club collects socks for those experiencing homelessness 

Club collects socks for those experiencing homelessness 

Jul 14, 2025 | General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

In New Jersey, U.S., The Happy Feet Project has warmed the toes (and hearts) of more than 80,000 people.

By Laurie J. Bode, member, Kiwanis Club of Long Beach Island, Surf City 

In the same year that Kiwanis International is celebrating its 110th anniversary and Key Club International is celebrating its 100th, our Kiwanis Club of Long Beach Island, Surf City, New Jersey, U.S., celebrates its 50th. So there’s no better time to highlight an impactful project started by one of our members. 

In 2016, Faith Dixon read an article about the impact that a new, warm pair of socks can have on someone’s life. In fact, it is the most sought-after item among those experiencing homelessness in the U.S. A recent statistic shows that one in 30 children experiences homelessness — 51% of whom are under age 5. A pair of new socks prevents many common ailments, reduces bacteria and medical problems, warms cold feet, brings dignity and comfort, and shows that people care. 

With Faith’s dedication and encouragement, the Happy Feet Project was initiated. The results have been astounding. During the first year, we collected and distributed 3,650 pairs of new socks — and the project only grew from there. In 2019, with the help of our middle and high schools (the students initiated an intraschool competition), the number of sock pairs collected and distributed soared to over 16,000. In 2024, over 11,000 pairs of socks were collected and distributed. 

Partners, volunteers and others
Faith has worked hard to enlist businesses and private members of our communities to help collect socks — and to become partners in “a community that cares.” As a result: 

  • We average about 20 collection sites with drop-off bins each year. In 2024 we set a record with over 40. 
  • We deliver between 300 and 500 pairs of socks to 15 distribution centers each year. 
  • The total pairs of socks we have collected and distributed in the project’s first nine years exceeds 80,500. 

Although Faith was the force and inspiration behind the Happy Feet Project, we couldn’t have achieved these results without the service of several other club members. Our local school children also have been a crucial part of the program. It gives them great satisfaction to know that Kiwanis cares about children and members of their communities, and that they have become a big part in making a difference in someone’s life. This is life-changing for them — potentially even inspiring them to become future Kiwanians as they learn the importance of service in their communities. 

As Faith says, “When you are surrounded by people who share a commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.”  

Has your club implemented a program to help those experiencing homelessness? Let us know what you’re doing at shareyourstory@kiwanis.org. 

Microgrants fund books, boots and more

Microgrants fund books, boots and more

Jul 8, 2025 | General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service Leadership Programs, Service projects | 0 comments

From January through March, smaller clubs made a big impact through the Kiwanis Children’s Fund.

By Erin Chandler 

In January, February and March, Kiwanis clubs around the world received Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrants for small projects that will make a big impact on kids and families. Microgrants are helping clubs teach kids how to be safe in swimming pools and when crossing the street, providing school supplies for students and teachers, and more.  

The following three projects highlight some of the ways Kiwanis clubs are using microgrants to help young people in need keep up with their peers in the Kiwanis cause areas of education and literacy, health and nutrition, and youth leadership development.  

Health and Nutrition
Huellas Seguras (Secure Footprints)
Kiwanis Club of Las Claras, Panama
One of the most common reasons students dropped out of Las Claras Arriba Rural and Multigrade School was the weather. Heavy rains exacerbated by climate change make it difficult for students to walk barefoot — as many do — over long distances on slippery roads to get to school. However, the Kiwanis Club of Las Claras saw that this was a relatively easy problem to solve, especially with a little help. A Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant will go toward the purchase of 100 pairs of rubber boots and waterproof capes, which will be distributed to students through the local development board and the school’s parents’ association. The club hopes to see a boost in consistent attendance rates once the students have rain gear protecting their health and safety on the way to school. 

Education and Literacy
Reading is Fundamental Book Giveaway
Kiwanis Club of Highland, Indiana, U.S.
Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Highland and a Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant, kids who aren’t able to purchase books from the Scholastic Book Fair still get to take home a brand-new Scholastic Book. Every year around the time of the book fair, Kiwanians visit the six area schools. They read to the kindergarten classes and tell the students about K-Kids, which they’ll be eligible to join in the third grade. Then each child gets to select a book purchased by the club from Scholastic Books, a Kiwanis partner. It’s a great way for kids to grow — or start — their home library. A favorite among club members, the project has already helped hundreds of kids get excited about reading. 

Youth Leadership Development
Calm Corners for Kids
Kiwanis Club of Freeport Golden K, Illinois, U.S.
At Jones-Farrar School, members of Builders Club — the Kiwanis Service Leadership Program for students age 12-14 — learned that not every school had spaces set aside to help students practice mindfulness and relaxation when needed. So they decided to do something about it — and the Kiwanis Club of Freeport Golden K pledged to help. Now a Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant will help these two Kiwanis family clubs work together to create three Calm Corners at local community centers. The Corners will be supplied with weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, floor cushions, sensory toys and other tools to help kids manage their emotions, reduce stress and develop self-regulation skills. The club will also provide training resources for Calm Corner volunteers and informational resources for parents. Each Corner will be codesigned with the kids who will use it. This initiative fosters the servant leadership of the Jones-Farrar Builders Club and helps more kids develop the mental and emotional resilience they will need as leaders of tomorrow. 

How you can help 
To learn more about Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrants, visit kiwanis.org/microgrant-program.    

If you want to help the Children’s Fund provide grants like these that reach children around the world, you can make a gift to The Possibility Project. Your club also can apply for a grant to help kids in your community today. 

2025 Signature Project Contest winners

2025 Signature Project Contest winners

Jun 26, 2025 | General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service projects | 0 comments

Out of 519 contest entries from around the world, this year’s six winning projects brought communities together.  

By Erin Chandler 

Kiwanis clubs around the world brought their communities together over the past year through creative and impactful service, fundraisers and events. On June 26 at the 2025 Kiwanis International Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., Kiwanians gathered to celebrate the best of Kiwanis clubs’ signature projects.  

Out of 519 contest entries from around the world, this year’s six winning projects were notable for bringing communities together, whether for projects that meet an important need or annual events that create joy for everyone. Through coordinated events and ongoing programs, these clubs promoted the Kiwanis causes — health and nutrition, education and literacy, and youth leadership development — in innovative ways. 

For contest details, visit the Signature Project Contest webpage. 

Group One (clubs with 27 or fewer members)

Gold 

Kiwanis Club of Stunning Davao — Southern Philippine District 
Nature Warriors: A Kid Learns to Protect Nature  

Through its Nature Warriors program, the Kiwanis Club of Stunning Davao aims to keep the Philippines’ Davao region stunning — by reaching out to its youngest residents. The club partners with the Department of Education to connect with schools in isolated areas that are in critical need of environmental protection. The visiting Kiwanians distribute bags containing school supplies, dental kits and books on nature to the students; install waste segregation stations; and teach kids how to protect the environment by properly disposing of garbage. The program also includes regular coastal cleanups, and soon the club hopes to partner with a turtle sanctuary to give hands-on lessons on protecting marine life. Each child who benefits from the Nature Warriors program brings what they have learned home with them, spreading the word about responsible environmental stewardship throughout the community.   

Silver 

Kiwanis Club of Sydney — Australia District 
Kiwanis Sydney Comfort Care Cases  

Every year, the Kiwanis Club of Sydney raises funds through a cake stall at a local shopping center, a raffle and a silent auction to support children and families through their most difficult times. The proceeds help to make “comfort care cases” for kids facing end-of-life care at Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick. The cases include items like mood lights, scent atomizers, soft toys, pillows and blankets to create a comforting, homelike atmosphere for the children; cameras and art supplies to let families create photos, pictures and hand- and footprints; children’s books that explain the process of death and mourning; teas and coffee for long waits; and other items to help families care for and remember their children. Currently, the club stocks seven cases located in the hospital’s palliative care, oncology, emergency and intensive care wards, and two mobile cases for home visits. Over the past 12 years, Kiwanis comfort care cases have provided solace to 50 kids and families.  

Bronze 

Kiwanis Club of North Suburban, Saint Paul — Minnesota-Dakotas District 
Kiwanis Malt Shop at the Minnesota State Fair  

For 55 years, the Kiwanis Malt Shop has been a must on to-do lists of Minnesota State Fair attendees — and members of the Kiwanis Club of North Suburban, Saint Paul look forward to it every year, too! During the 12-day fair, club members are joined by the Roseville Key Club and community volunteers in dishing up 15,000-20,000 malts over the course of 230 four-hour shifts. A Kiwanian is always available to provide answers to questions — along with Kiwanis information and membership applications for guests to take with them. Each year, the malt shop raises an average of US$114,000, which the club uses to support a cause — such as Key Club, 4-H, student scholarships or organizations fighting food insecurity — which is chosen based on community need. Malt shop funds also have helped establish five elementary school libraries, install a slide in a park for an underserved community of new refugees, build a Miracle League baseball field for kids with disabilities and much more.  

 

Group Two (clubs with 28 or more members)

Gold 

Kiwanis Club of Birmingham — Alabama District 
Kiwanis Reads  

In just four years, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham’s Kiwanis Reads program has brought books into the schools and homes of 20,000 children. In this literacy program, Kiwanians visit 900 preschools in Birmingham twice a year to read to students and give each one a book to build their own home libraries. Each book contains a Kiwanis bookplate with a QR code that leads to a video of a Kiwanis club member reading the book aloud — an extra tool to help kids in homes where there might not be an adult available to read in English. This year, Kiwanis Reads received a club grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund; expanded into 10 new schools, allowing the club to serve 300 more students; and partnered with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to restart the Books Not Bullets program, providing books for police officers to hand out on patrol. School officials say students are increasing their vocabulary and reading fluency by reading aloud — all while they learn to associate reading with fun.  

Silver 

Kiwanis Club of West St. Andrew — Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District 
Ferry Health and Dental Fair  

Not even a tropical storm can stop the Kiwanis Club of West St. Andrew’s Ferry Health and Dental Fair. The Ferry community suffers from high poverty and unemployment levels, a lack of running water and the absence of any health center or dental care provider. With help from Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, as well as partner organizations that provide equipment, volunteer medical professionals and more, the Kiwanis Club of West St. Andrew stepped in. The club’s Health and Dental Fair provides free treatments, screenings — including blood pressure checks, diabetes testing, and HIV/STI testing and counseling — dental cleanings, nutritional counseling and vitamin distribution. Patients are also provided with three months of any prescribed medication free of cost. In 2024, 67 medical professionals worked through the rains of Tropical Storm Raphael to treat more than 3,500 patients over the course of the three-day fair. The effort and dedication have even resulted in 12 new Kiwanis members.  

Bronze 

Kiwanis Club of Brandon — Western Canada District 
Annual Kiwanis Kar Derby  

For the past 35 years, residents of Brandon, Manitoba, have come together to cheer on their kids in the Kiwanis Kar Derby. Some of the motorless, handmade “soapbox” cars in the race have been passed down within families or sponsoring companies for generations — but the club also often supplies cars to children who cannot afford them or who don’t have an available adult to help build them. Around 300 people attended the most recent Derby. Ray’s Fireplace barbecues for the crowd, neighbors give up their yards for parking and soldiers from the nearby army base help move equipment. The event raises an average of CA$13,900 each year, which goes right back into the community. New and old club members love to see the work they do come to fruition — and to see the smiles on kids’ faces as they speed downhill.