Bring hope to unhoused young people

Bring hope to unhoused young people

Nov 21, 2025 | General interest, News, Service projects | 0 comments

To address youth homelessness, get inspiration from these Kiwanis family projects.

By Julie Saetre and Erin Chandler

November is Youth Homelessness Outreach, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Month. Each year, according to the National Runaway Safeline, an estimated 4.2 million young people ages 13-25 experience homelessness — in the United States alone. And each year, members of the Kiwanis family organize service projects to help.  

Want some inspiration for your club? Use these Kiwanis family examples — and consider research the needs of youth experiencing homelessness in your city or district. 

The Kiwanis New Jersey District: Project on Youth Homelessness
After Kiwanians in the U.S. state of New Jersey identified youth homelessness as a serious concern in the district, they learned that shelter, support and other vital social services were often underfunded. Sometimes the needs of these young people were overlooked entirely. 

In response, the Kiwanis New Jersey District adopted a project for its Kiwanis clubs over the 2024-25 and 2025-26 service years: to contribute US$20,000 in funds and complete 2,000 hours of community service with agencies serving unhoused youth in the state. 

In addition, the New Jersey Kiwanis Foundation committed to expand the project’s impact in local communities by providing up to US$45,000 in matching and capital improvement grants to youth homeless shelters throughout the state during the same time period. – Julie Saetre 

York Castle High School Key Club: Strathmore Children’s Home Initiative
In Saint Ann, Jamaica, the members of York Castle High School Key Club are reaching out to help vulnerable children in their community with support from a 2025 Youth Opportunities Fund grant. The club pledges to revitalize Strathmore Children’s Home — a nonprofit that houses children with disabilities, those who have been abandoned, and wards of the state — with new security gates, paint, tiles and a community garden. Members also will provide essential supplies such as food and hygiene products. Altogether, this initiative will make Strathmore Children’s Home a safer and more welcoming place for residents and staff for years to come. – Erin Chandler 

Northwest Indianapolis Kiwanis Club: Snacks for Homeless Students
More than a decade ago, members of the Northwest Indianapolis Kiwanis Club in Indiana, U.S., discovered that over 160 students at a local high school were unhoused and hungry. And more students were suffering the same problem throughout the local school district. So the club began collecting nonperishable items and monetary donations for the school district’s food pantry, including prepackaged snacks that are easier for the kids to eat on the run. During the last five years, which have included the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges, the pantry has expanded its support to assist students’ neighbors as well — and the Northwest Indianapolis club continues to do its part to help. – JS 

Circle K International Club of Northern Arizona University: Care Without Conditions
Members of the Northern Arizona University CKI Club in Arizona, U.S., are helping their community’s unhoused population — including fellow students — by assembling and distributing care packages containing hygiene products, nonperishable snacks, socks, bottled water and more. Each package also includes a handmade card and a guide to local resources, including shelters, food banks and healthcare services. Club members hope the care packages will bridge the gap between people experiencing homelessness and the larger university community. – EC 

Key Club of Desert Oasis High School: Care Kits for Kids
In Nevada, U.S., the Key Club of Desert Oasis High School is helping youth who are experiencing homelessness in Las Vegas. The club will assemble different types of care kits — hygiene kits containing travel-sized toiletries; holiday gift kits with items such as phone chargers, journals, blankets, socks and more; and snack kits containing canned meats, fruit, granola bars, chips and juice— to offer care, support and hope to young people. The club will donate kits to local homeless and youth centers. – EC 

The Atascadero Kiwanis Aktion Club/Gum Springs Elementary School K-Kids: Blankets for those in need
The Atascadero Kiwanis Aktion Club in California, U.S., donated 20 handmade, handtied blankets to children staying at the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) shelter, which provides safe and secure overnight shelter to families facing hunger and homelessness. 

“Receiving these beautiful handmade blankets means so much to the children and families we serve,” ECHO CEO Wendy Lewis told club members. “The care and effort the Aktion Club members put into creating them truly embodies the spirit of community and compassion.” 

In Georgia, U.S., the K-Kids of Gum Springs Elementary School did their part to give the gift of warmth. They brought in pairs of blankets, which were then tied together to make insulated blankets. The assembled blankets then were distributed to people without access to warm shelters.  – JS 

Get to know Manila

Get to know Manila

Nov 20, 2025 | General interest, Kiwanis Convention | 0 comments

Here are tips and recommendations for our convention’s host city.

By Lauren Young

For each Kiwanis International convention, one of the most exciting features is the availability of experiences in our host city. For 2026, we’re especially pleased to provide tips and recommendations about this year’s location: Manila, the capitol of the Philippines.  

Before we pass along some notable sites, here are a few things you might want to know before you go: 

  • Weather and wear: Plan for daily highs of around 90 degrees Fahrenheit and lows around 79 degrees. And since June is the start of the rainy season, there will be a good chance of rain throughout the week. Our recommendation: Pack lightweight, breathable clothing and a compact umbrella or a light rain jacket.     
  • Money: The Philippine peso (PHP) is the only currency accepted for everyday purchases. Major cards (e.g., VISA, Mastercard) are widely accepted at larger restaurants and hotels, but most shops and attractions require cash.  
  • Getting around: For simplicity and safety, use the Grab rideshare app for point-to-point trips. When you have extra time, try riding a jeepney — Manila’s brightly painted public minibuses that follow fixed routes around the city.  

If you find a little free time
If your schedule allows, take some time to explore Manila’s culture and people — and the connections that make every Kiwanis gathering special. Even with a full convention schedule, you don’t have to go far to get a glimpse of Manila. Within reasonable distances of our hotels, you’ll find cuisine, culture and leisure that make the most of a few free hours: 

Walkable (5-15 minutes) 

  • CRU Steakhouse. The Manila Marriott’s signature steak and seafood restaurant, with an extensive wine list.  
  • Casa Buenas. Filipino-Spanish dishes with locally sourced ingredients in a heritage-inspired setting at Newport World Resorts.  
  • Café Mary Grace. Local café chain known for ensaymada (a brioche-like pastry), cheese rolls and Filipino-style pasta.  
  • S&R New York Style Pizza. Casual, large-slice pizza and comfort food.  
  • Newport Performing Arts Theater. A large venue within Newport World Resorts that hosts musicals, concerts and live entertainment.  
  • Newport Cinemas. A modern complex featuring multiple movie theaters, including premium and 4D options, showing local and international films.  
  • Shrine of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. A domed Catholic church known for its modern design and peaceful atmosphere.  

A short ride (15-30 minutes) 

  • Villamor Air Base Golf Club. An 18-hole championship golf course open to the public, featuring wide fairways, mature trees and a driving range.  
  • SM Mall of Asia. One of the largest shopping complexes in Asia, located along Manila Bay, featuring hundreds of retail stores, restaurants and cinemas — along with an indoor skating rink and sunset views along the outdoor promenade.  
  • The Theatre at Solaire. A theater inside Solaire Resort and Casino, designed for large-scale performances such as international musicals, orchestral concerts and other shows. 

Those are just a few of the sites to see within walking or vehicle-riding distance during the convention. Planning to stay a little longer? Look for an upcoming blog post about the ways you can turn your trip into a deeper, more personal adventure — especially if you extend your stay in Manila by a day or two, before or after the convention. 

 

In the meantime, visit our convention webpage to learn more about the event itself! 

How to make a small-town club big

How to make a small-town club big

Nov 19, 2025 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

In Steilacoom, Washington, U.S., a roster with local leaders strengthens meetings and membership.

By Tony Knoderer

Smaller towns don’t always mean smaller Kiwanis clubs. Consider the Kiwanis Club of Steilacoom, Washington, U.S. In a community of about 6,500 people, the club currently has over 150 members. And it’s known throughout the town for service projects and fundraisers like its annual Winefest, which includes dinner, wine tasting and more. 

That kind of engagement is a good way to make a club’s name prominent in a community — and to attract people who want to be members.  

But there’s another key element to the club’s success: It has a history of including local leaders on its membership roster. One of those members is the current mayor of Steilacoom, Rick Muri (pictured at right during an induction event, with 2024-25 club president Patrick Kennedy at left). 

A Kiwanian since becoming a Steilacoom charter member in 1993, Muri was elected to the local school board in 1997 — becoming the first member of the club to win office while he was a member. (The second, in 2002, was Ron Lucas, then the town’s mayor.) 

“Our club started with close ties to the school district,” Muri says. “Our club’s charter president, John Jewell, was our local elementary school’s principal. In 1999, our school district’s superintendent, Art Himmler, became our club’s president.” 

Now, Muri says, there are 11 elected officials in the club: all five current school board members, the five current council members and Muri.  

“People with political aspirations, they see that,” Muri adds. “It’s a small town — and we are, after all, a social organization.” 

A great answer
The club’s appeal for local leaders isn’t just a closed loop that exclusively attracts other local leaders. It’s also an effective way of spreading the word about Kiwanis to service-minded people throughout the community.   

“Elected officials have lots of contacts,” Muri says. “When I first ran for mayor and knocked on doors, about one in 20 people would ask, ‘How can I get involved in the town?’ The Kiwanis club was a great answer.” 

For Muri, who currently chairs the club’s membership committee, that experience provided an additional recruiting lesson: “Knocking on doors still works.” 

But he and his fellow members are aware of how important it is to use more modern forms of outreach. For example, the club joined Facebook in 2009. As with many Kiwanis clubs, the social media platform has been an efficient way of showing people what it’s like to be in the club — by promoting club events, posting photos and videos of projects and even sharing links to presentations made at club meetings. (A recent video shared the dedication ceremony for a new swing the club installed at the local Kiwanis Pioneer Park.) 

“If you don’t take the picture and give it a good write-up, it didn’t happen,” Muri says. “You don’t have to brag, but you do have to let people know what’s happening.” 

The club also uses its Facebook page to stay in consistent contact with people — members and nonmembers alike.  

“We tell people, ‘You can join our Facebook group and see what we do,’” Muri says. “If one out of 10 of those people join, that’s solid growth.” 

Civics 101
Another well-known feature of the Steilacoom club is the quality of its meetings — particularly the guest speakers. Recent meetings have included presentations about the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, U.S., the state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and more. 

Muri partly credits the networking reach of the club’s roster, which also includes accomplished professionals and three former U.S. military generals — such as the club’s 2025-26 president, Rick Ash, a retired brigadier general. (Muri himself retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1998.)   

“I tell people, ‘Join our club or just come to the meetings — you’ll get a Civics 101 education,’” Muri says.  

It’s also important, he adds, to appeal to people across the social and political spectrums. In Steilacoom, the club — which regularly meets in the morning — has a few evening events each year, ranging from a potluck dinner to a Cinco de Mayo celebration. 

“In a small town or city, a Kiwanis club can be a nexus,” Muri says. “Why not be the center of your community?”