Service Directory 2

KEY CLUB Florida District Service Directory

Created by the Florida District Service Committee   “We  need  your  service,  right  now,  at  this  moment  in  history.    I’m  not  going  to  tell  you  what  your  role   should  be;  that’s  for  you  to  discover.    But  I  am  asking  you  to  stand  up  and  play  your  part.    I  am  asking  you  to   help  change  history’s  course.”   -President Obama, 4/21/09

Service Legend   K-Family Projects

Major Emphasis Projects (MEPs) and Service Partner Projects

Governor’s Project

Hands-On Projects

District Projects

Projects to help Children

Drives

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http://www.adoptagrandparent.org/ About it: Adopt-A-Grandparent is a program that provides a way for generations to come together. Volunteers serve as companions for older citizens who are alone and often friendless. Done in the past: Key Clubs everywhere have found a local retirement home to partner with, visiting on the weekends with a few members to see their “grandparents” and talk, play board games, or just sit quietly listening to music. How to help: Search in your school’s area for a local retirement home and call to find out whether they accept visitors. Choose a day for your members to go, usually the weekends are the best times. Have a few volunteers from your club each week go over to the home and visit the elderly there so they have people to talk with and be entertained by. What can be accomplished: There is no doubt these people will become your club members’ new best friends. Visiting the elderly on the weekends will not be a chore but a privilege; they are so full of stories and love to hear about all you do, taking a true interest in your life. Your club will be giving these people something to look forward to every week. Some with families far away or with none at all, the “grandparents” will truly become your own.

Adopt-A-Highway

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http://www.dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice/aah.shtm About it: For nearly ten years, Florida’s Adopt-A-Highway program has improved the appearance of highway right-of-way throughout Florida while reducing the cost of litter removal. Done in the past: Clubs and individuals have adopted highways and then gone back frequently to assure their highway stays clean. How to help: Raise some funds with your club or take money from your club’s account to adopt a Florida highway. As a club, plan trips on Saturdays once a month or as frequently as your club wants to go and pick up trash at your club’s highway. Keep it clean! What can be accomplished: Your club will feel connected to this piece of land that it adopts, interested in keeping it clean, which is great for the highway. But

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your club also has something to rally around, most likely getting excited every time members drive over the two mile stretch of highway.

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http://www.adoptaschool.co.za/index.html?lf=1;pg=1 Contact the foundation for information about adoption by filling out the information on http://www.adoptaschool.co.za/index.html?lf=1;pg=5 About it: The Adopt-A-School Foundation works to supply grants for schools throughout South Africa that are in need to donations for the improvement of their facilities. They put schools through a rigorous process to determine whether or not they really need assistance and then find individuals, clubs, or companies interested in “adopting” the school by donating money. Done in the past: Clubs around the world have donated their money to the foundation and adopted a school. The club can also collect supplies to ship over to their school and the club can organize teachers and students to help the teachers at the school in Africa better assist the students in learning. How to help: Your club can raise money or take money from its account to adopt a school in South Africa. Your club does not have to leave it at that- and you can find time to assemble materials to send over to the school that will help the teachers help their students. Your club can also collect school supplies to ship over to the school in Africa so the children there have more to work with. Adopting a school can be much more than just a simple donation. What can be accomplished: According to the Schools Needs Register, South Africa has about 28 000 schools and 21 000 of these have buildings and infrastructural facilities that are in an unsatisfactory condition. 50% of their schools have no electricity over 9 000 schools have no access to telecommunications, 30% have no water and 10% have no sanitation. There is no science laboratory in two thirds of schools and only one school in five has a library. With your club’s help, this can all change and you will only be helping to push Africa in the way of modernization.

http://adoptatroop.net/ (239) 671-8456 3  

 

About it: Adopt a Troop Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit volunteer group of friends whose goal is to support our troops now fighting for our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their purpose is to raise money and/or needed items to fill care packages and send the packages to our troops overseas. • Done in the past: Key Clubs have worked with K-Kids to write letters to troops overseas to provide them comfort and show support for their defense of our country. • How to help: Your club can adopt a troop and send the troop care packages. The provided website lists items that are suggested to put in a care package. Have each of your club members bring in one of the listed items and then spend a day packaging them to send to the troops. Maybe write some letters too in appreciation for all their hard work. This is a great project to do with a KKids if your school is affiliated with one. • What can be accomplished: When you adopt a troop you are supporting them and making soldiers overseas feel appreciated. Many times your gifts to them show how greatly we admire their work and gives them even more reason to continue to defend us back home. •

www.redcross.org (202) 303-5000 About it: Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation's premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering. • Done in the past: Blood drives have been sponsored by Key Clubs around the world. • How to help: Through the Red Cross, one can donate, volunteer, or give blood. Donations can be made to the disaster relief fund, to the international response fund, to where need is the greatest, to aid service to the armed forces, or to your local red cross chapter. As a club, you can arrange for blood donors to visit the school so students can donate their blood by sponsoring the blood drive. Convenience, for many people, turns out to be the deciding factor whether they give blood or not. The American Red Cross works closely with companies, community groups, military bases, churches and synagogues, colleges, universities and high schools to organize blood drives at places most convenient for donors — the places where they live, work, worship, and play. In fact, 80% of blood donations made through the Red Cross are made at blood drives rather than fixed donor centers. Blood drives need sponsors — an organization that can provide the appropriate physical space and a coordinator from the organization to educate, motivate, and recruit donors and work with the local Red Cross. To sponsor a drive go to • • •

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http://www.givelife2.org/sponsor/default.asp to view the responsibilities and process. • What can be accomplished: By donating blood or money, you can save a life. If the blood bank finds your donated blood to be a match for a sick person, blood transfusions may take place and the person cured. Success stories of this project can be found on the Red Cross’s website under the donating blood section, stories of lives changed with the simple act of donating blood.

http://www.asphome.org/ (423) 854-8800 About it: The Appalachia Service Project strives to enhance housing services to low-income families in Central Appalachia. This area covers the mountainous region that includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. This area has poverty rates well above the national average and many of the counties are classified as "distressed" by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The communities in which ASP serves generally have poverty rates up to three times the national average. About one in four people including more than 50,000 children, 90,000 adults, & 15,000 elderly live in poverty in these areas. The project serves 8,500 homes lacking adequate kitchens, 9,000 homes without complete plumbing. Nearly half of the families have household incomes below $20,000. • Done in the past: Communities served in Summer 2007: Kentucky: Bell, Breathitt, Harlan, Knott (2 locations), Knox, Letcher, Magoffin, Perry & Wolfe counties; Tennessee: Carter, Hancock, Morgan & Scott counties Carter, Sullivan & Washington counties (through Good Neighbors); Virginia: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee & Wise counties; West Virginia: Fayette, Logan (2 locations), Mercer, Mingo, Summers & Wyoming counties. Since their founding in 1969, over 240,000 volunteers from across the nation have repaired more than 12,500 homes • How to help: Members of your club could travel to the Appalachia region to participate in the project, or even start something remotely similar in Florida. Even if these methods of helping out are too difficult, sending over supplies for the construction or at least raising money for the project would be a tremendous help in their efforts. • What can be accomplished: “We often hear of significant life changes resulting from the ASP experience: of families renewing their faith in the goodness of others, of people newly motivated to continue their education, of youth/young adults choosing lives of service through lay/ordained ministry and other helping professions. No one walks away from the ASP experience unchanged.” • • •

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http://www.hosa.org/natorg/sectb/cat-v/natserv.pdf#search=%22Autism%22 (212) 252-8584 [email protected] About it: Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. • Done in the past: Walks for this organization are frequently held almost everywhere. Most people participate in the event and try to raise money. Attending the events has been a major source of outreach and a great spread of awareness. • How to help: For Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders, raising money through a walk is the most efficient way to get involved. Each year there are walks for Autism Speaks throughout the state. By finding a local walk, your club can put together a group and raise money from friends and family. Look on the organization’s website for the 2009-2010 dates of walks near you and start raising money! • What can be accomplished: By raising money for Autism Speaks, not only are you participating in the Governor’s Project but you are helping to fund global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bring hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. • • • •

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About it: Arts and Crafts are all about being creative. Painting, sculpting, drawing…whatever it is, arts and crafts is a way to help people relax, bond, and have fun. Done in the past: Key Clubs have gathered supplies for arts and crafts and brought them to local Boys and Girls Clubs, K-Kids, or orphanages to entertain children and provide them with a keepsake or artwork. How to help: Your club can help by asking each member to bring in some form of art supplies (markers, paint, paper, pencils, clay, etc.). Or your club can hold an art supplies drive throughout the school. After collecting enough art supplies your club can bring them over to a local Boys and Girls Club, a K-Kids affiliated with your club, orphanage, or day care center. Either do projects with the children or supervise as they do it themselves. 6  

 

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What can be accomplished: Arts and crafts are a relaxing project that encourages children to be creative. This also gives your club the opportunity to interact with your K-Kids or entertain a group of underprivileged children for a day.

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About it: At a Breakfast with Santa underprivileged kids come and eat breakfast and then visit with Santa. Done in past: Clubs have hosted Breakfast with Santa and given every child there a small present. How to help: Host a Breakfast with Santa event. Collect donations for supplies such as pancake mix, beverages, cups, plates, pancake syrup, utensils, table cloths, napkins, and gifts for the kids. What can be accomplished: By holding a Breakfast with Santa event you are providing food for underprivileged children.

www.beadsofcourage.net (602) 253-8310 [email protected] About it: Beads of Courage is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen the protective resources in children coping with serious illness. Through the program children tell their story using colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path. • Done in the past: Key Clubs across the world have invited people to make bracelets with them, charging for each bracelet made and donating the profits to Beads of Courage. • How to help: What you can do to help is either raise money for the organization or make your own homemade beads to send to the program. To raise money, your club can hold a bracelet-making project where anyone who wants to make a bracelet pays to do so and the money goes to Beads of Courage. This way, people can have fun while raising money. Your club can buy cheap beads and string and make a profit from the charge to make the bracelets. • What can be accomplished: By participating in this project, your club is helping to ameliorate the process of hospitalization for children. • • • •

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www.beccascloset.org About it: Becca’s Closet is an organization dedicated to providing prom and other formal dresses to students who can’t afford it. Rebecca Kirtman was a High school student from South Florida who passed away in a tragic car accident in 2003. Before she died, she started a dress drive to provide prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who couldn’t afford to purchase them. After her death, her parents and friends continued with her dress drive and eventually formed Becca’s Closet. Done in the past: Individuals have donated dresses to Becca’s Closet knowing they probably will not wear them again or just because it’s a great deed. How to help: Organize with your club a dress drive before the end of the school year when most proms are held. Advertise the drive throughout your school and community and encourage people to donate their dresses. What can be accomplished: By donating dresses, you are probably making a young girl feel beautiful at her prom and most of the dresses donated would go unworn anyway.

http://www.bestbuddies.org/ http://www.bestbuddiesflorida.org About it: Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for oneto-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Done in the past: Students have set up Best Buddy chapters at their own schools and worked with the disabled both inside and outside school. Donations have been popular as have the sponsoring of Best Buddy with just a small fee. How to help: There are a few easy ways for Key Clubs to help with Best Buddies. First, your club can sponsor a campus-based Buddy Pair for $250 or even just sponsor an online e-Buddies Pair for $50. Another way to participate is by charting a club at your school that works with Best Buddies by visiting 8  

 

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http://www.bestbuddiesflorida.org/site/c.kwL3KmN2LvH/b.1287625/k.903B/High_ Schools.htm for more information as well as someone to contact. What can be accomplished: By chartering a club at your school you can either work with students outside of school both young and old with disabilities or even within your school, helping to be sure their experience in highs school is more similar to everyone else’s. Communicating with a best buddy via the internet is just one way to help brighten their day and give them an automatic friend to take interest in.

http://www.booksforafrica.org/ About it: Books for Africa collects, sorts, ships, and distributes books to children in Africa. Done in the past: Volunteers have helped out at the BFA warehouses, none of which are in Florida. The most common form of aid has been in donations because it costs over $9,000 for a shipment of books to Africa. However, people have donated books as well. How to help: Hold a book drive with your club, but also be sure to raise enough money to ship the books to the BFA warehouses. Sometimes it might be fore helpful to just raise money for the Africa shipments but if your club can collect enough books, than it’s worth it. What can be accomplished: BFA is attempting to spread books throughout Africa. Not only are you giving many children in Africa the chance to learn to read and be entertained, but also your club is taking a big step in helping to wipe out illiteracy throughout the world.

http://www.bgca.org/ Find a club: http://www.bgca.org/clubs/ About it: Boys and Girls Clubs across the nation have developed club programs and services to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. There are hundreds of these clubs just in Florida, one around every corner it seems. The 9  

 

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Boys and Girls Clubs of America are now in partnership with Kiwanis International, so this is one of the most important projects your club could do. Done in the past: Key Clubs at particular schools have tried to partner up with a specific Boys and Girls Club that members can go over to after school to play with the children and volunteer with setting up for projects and games as well as making advertisements for the club. How to help: Your club could work with Kiwanians to help set up a Boys and Girls Club in a region of Florida where it may be needed but is not yet present. An easier way to get involved, if there is a Boys and Girls Club near your school or home, is by volunteering at the school. Maybe try and set up a weekly program in your Key Club for which a few members are sent each week on a certain day to volunteer at the club. Or, this could just be a monthly project for your entire club. Contact a Boys and Girls Club to see what they want or need and this could be the next best and most exciting activity your club offers to its members. What can be accomplished: Most of the Boys and Girls Clubs members are children whose home may not be the safest haven and they resort to the clubs for their complete safety and entertainment. By volunteering to play with the children, you put a smile on their face and show them loving-care, something they may be in dire need of. Also, by helping to advertise for the club, your club is attracting more children who many not feel comfortable at home to the Boys and Girls Club, an act that could change the rest of their lives for the better.

http://slp.kiwanis.org/buildersclub/Homepage.aspx About it: Builders Club is the largest service organization for middle school and junior high students, with more than 40,000 members worldwide. It is also a member of the K-Family, sponsored by Kiwanis International. Builders Club is a “student-led” community service organization that operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body Done in the past: Key Clubs across the world have worked with Builders Clubs near them by helping to delegate their meetings and run their service projects. Key Club members have served as the role-models for Builders Club members, students who hopefully consider joining Key Club in high school. How to help: If there are no Builders Clubs near your school, work with your sponsoring Kiwanis Club to set one up! If there is one already, set up a program 10  

 

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in your Key Club for which a few members go to the meetings each week and help the middle school students run the show. Make sure your club members show up to their projects and guide them in conducting successful service. Be their mentors just like Kiwanians are ours! What can be accomplished: By helping out with a Builders Club, your Key Club is practically assuring that those students will join your club when they enter high school. Also, your club members will serve as their role models and provide them with direction when doing service.

http://www.caitlins-smiles.org/ [email protected] (717) 412-4759 About it: Caitlin’s Smiles provides hospital patients with "Bag of Smiles" packages through their Creative Arts Care Program. These packages promote activities such as drawing, creative writing and sculpting. Hospital staff distributes the packages while the children are in the hospital. They also provide individual arts and crafts kits to hospital departments and clinics where children wait for lengthy treatments and provide family support with kits that include items such as gas cards, local restaurant gift cards, and phone cards. They also provide toys for treasure boxes. • Done in the past: People have helped raise money for the Caitlin’s Smiles organization by holding events such as dances and car washes. But, they have also have done hands-on volunteering by decorating and supplying these kits for creative entertainment. • How to help: Your club can create Bag of Smiles kits to encourage emotional healing through creative activity, a major goal of the organization. Visit the website (http://www.caitlins-smiles.org/volunteer.php) to learn more about the kits. They also provide a wish list of items that have been favorites to patients. Your club, or a few members of your club, can then deliver the kits to the hospital for them to be passed around to patients. Try seeing if maybe you could visit the patients yourselves and play with them; children are always amused by friendly strangers. The instructions for making kits can be found at http://www.caitlins-smiles.org/kit.php. • What can be accomplished: By participating in this project, your club is providing entertainment to patients being held in a hospital who typically cannot have fun because they are not surrounded by children their age. By being a playmate or donating the kits to occupy their minds, you are most definitely bringing a smile to their faces. • • • •

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http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/ (801) 214-7400 Done in the past: Donations have been made to the organization by clubs. Volunteering at hospitals to visit the children and entertain them has also been done. • About it: Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Countless individuals, organizations and media partners unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. • How to help: You can buy a red and yellow paper Miracle Balloon, support a sponsor fundraiser like a raffle or car wash, or call and donate to your local Radiothon or Celebration TV broadcast. There are seven Children’s Miracle Network hospitals throughout Florida that you can help promote for, fundraise for, or even volunteer at. • What can be accomplished: Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children each year. • • •

Chow Now

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Camden (941) 725-1202 [email protected] About it: CHOW NOW (Children Hungry On Weekends: Not on Our Watch) is a Key Club program that was started by Manatee High School Key Club. It serves children that receive free/reduced lunches during the school day with food during the weekend. It involves fundraising, community outreach, and your Key Club members contributing healthy food items to give to the children for the weekend. Done in the past: Manatee High has set a great example in developing an original project, pursing it to the highest level of success, and reaching out for others to follow. They are asking for the Florida District to take a stand with them against hunger. How to help: First, it would be best to contact a Manatee High Key Clubber who has had a leadership role in this project in order to discuss the details of implementing it. The plan is simply to provide selected students with “kid friendly”, non-perishable foods for the weekend. The idea is to sponsor an elementary or middle school in your area. Once you have found one, speak with the school principal about the CHOW NOW program and what it does for the 12  

 

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students. You will then have to make up a permission slip for students to bring home to their parents if they wish to participate in the program. Ask the Manatee High Project Administrator for the permission slip. Every weekend, you should give each selected student a bag of food to take home. Have the target school be responsible for identifying students who would most benefit by the program, notifying the parents/ receiving permission for their child’s participation, and distributing the grocery bags on Fridays. Then, make your Key Club responsible for obtaining donations for the project–either approved foods or monetary donations, assisting in packing the bags and, very importantly, offering your services and expertise to the administration and PTA groups of other schools in the county. To reduce the expense of purchasing food items, your Key Club members should continually bring in food to restock the “pantry”. In addition to donations, members should be involved each week in packaging, delivery, public relations, and solicitation. Some other ideas are running a school news promotional video to educate the student body. Try asking your school if it can donate food from the cafeteria distributor or what is left over each day. At the end of the Key Club year, be sure to check out the Contests and Awards packet to apply for a CHOW NOW award! What can be accomplished: More and more school children are receiving free or reduced lunches and breakfasts at their schools. It has come to Manatee Bay’s attention that some of these children have nothing or very little to eat on the weekends. Now, it can be your Key Club’s turn to do the same in your area, only improving your community and your club’s level of service.

http://christmasinjulyinc.com/ About It: Christmas In July is an event done in south Florida started by a Kiwanian. The purpose of the event is to provide homeless or poor children with school supplies. Done in the past: Since the event is about teens, sponsors and around the age of key clubbers can’t volunteer at the actual event to protect the dignity of the kids, however key clubbers can donate money as well as school supplies to be given out to the students. How to help: Host a school wide collection drive for the program and donate the supplies and/or funds to Christmas in July. What can be accomplished: Through donating to Christmas in July, students can help the unfortunate teens and kids locally.

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http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PAR/PAR_10_DetermiNation.asp About it: DetermiNation is the American Cancer Society’s nation of athletes determined to end cancer. This powerful and inspiring movement saves lives by enabling athletes to dedicate their training and participation in marathons, triathlons, cycling races, and other endurance events to a lifesaving effort to fight a disease that has already taken too many lives. Done in the past: Since 1996, our nation of athletes has swum, biked, and run thousands of miles to raise millions of dollars to save lives. Key Clubs have participated in walk-a-thons and races in order to help raise money for the organization. They have also advertised for events and become members of DetermiNation. How to help: Become members as a club and your club can receive a number of benefits including free team training to help you achieve your race goals. Volunteer for the event near you by helping to set up, advertise, and raise money. ACS (American Cancer Society) has already developed realistic goals to help people raise money for their programs. What can be accomplished: As a DetermiNation team member, you are making a commitment to help save lives. Donated money has helped people quit smoking, fund tips, tools, and online resources to help people set goals and stay motivated to eat healthy and maintain an active lifestyle, and aided in cancer research.

Dinner for the Blind About it: By holding a dinner for the blind, a club has the opportunity to see firsthand the effects of not being able to see while providing entertainment for those who may sometimes be overlooked in the service community. • Done in the past: This idea was passed down by another Key Club that held the event and presented it at the ICON Service Fair. They organized a dinner for the blind and raised a lot of money from selling tickets and donations. • How to help: Advertise for and seek out blind people of all ages in your community and invite them to a Key Club-sponsored dinner for which you provide entertainment, food, and peers. Have your whole club organize the event and cater to the blind while listening to their stories and allowing them to meet others with their same condition. You can also invite others from the community and try to raise money for a cause related to blindness. • What can be accomplished: Not only would your club be giving its time to those in need, but members of your club will have the opportunity to learn about a certain life style that is at times difficult to imagine. •

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http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer About it: Easter Seals provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities. • Done in the past: Easter Seals walks have been held throughout Florida in order to raise money for the organization. Key Clubs across the district have traditionally participated in the walk, either forming a group to raise money or just doing the walk to show support. • How to help: In preparation for an Easter Seals walk, the organization partners you with an Easter Seals Honorary Ambassador, a child or adult with a disability who has benefited from Easter Seals services. On the day of the walk, you’ll get to meet your ambassador. Leading up to the walk, you’ll get to know your ambassador through photos and personal stories. You can search for a walk near you at http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=Walk_participate. • What can be accomplished: Easter Seals I has been a well-established organization for years now and by participating your club becomes a part of the tradition. If you connect with an Ambassador, your club has the opportunity to brighten someone’s life through the simple act of reaching out. • •

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http://everychildaswimmer.org/index.html About It: The charter objective of this non-profit corporation is to make Every Child A Swimmer, educated and trained in water safety. The Every Child A Swimmer (ECAS) Project offers to Elementary Schools, by the Kiwanis family, the first and only permanent solution to the senseless, escalating drowning problem that has plagued the world from time immemorial. Done in the Past: K-Family can participate in Every Child A Swimmer by being “inwater assistants” to the trained professionals teaching the children to swim. 15  

 

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How to Help: Your Key Club can help by volunteering as assistants for the trained professionals in the water. What can be accomplished: Through Every Child A Swimmer and Key Club collaborating, not only will you be having a good time at a community service project, but more importantly teaching children to swim.

http://www.fcadv.org/ Danielle Trubo (561) 715-9427 [email protected] About it: FCADV, works towards ending domestic violence through public awareness, policy development, creation of standards, provision of funding, and support for Florida's domestic violence centers. Done in the past: Clothing drives are one way people have helped the victims of abuse. How to help: Hold a clothing drive at your school at any point during the year or throughout the whole year. Advertise this project well in your school and around your community, being sure that all your members are helping to encourage the donation of clothing. This year there will be a district-wide clothing drive competition for which the winner, the school that collects and donates the greatest amount of clothing, will be recognized at DCON with an award for this specific project. Every club that collects 100 items of clothing or more will be awarded with a Banner Patch at DCON for their participation. This is something your club can participate in throughout the year, competing with clubs around Florida to win the competition, and donating clothing to an organization that surely appreciates the donations. If your local shelter has no room for clothing donations, they will probably tell you to donate the clothes to a thrift store they are affiliated with or another storage center. So, be sure to call ahead of time before bringing all the clothes to a certain shelter. Shelter locations can be found on the website. What can be accomplished: Not only is this a project recognized by the district of Florida, but it is also one that is unique and lasts throughout the year. By participating, your club is helping to support the victims of abuse, a common problem existing throughout the world.

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http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=org [email protected] About it: Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty, or natural disaster. This project, designed by the organization, encourages people to create their own boxes, filled with items according to a theme (check out the first website for theme ideas), and have them delivered to such children around the country. • Done in the past: People in the past have helped aid this organization by sponsoring a child, providing food to children and families for disaster relief, and made boxes of necessary items for children around the world. • How to help: Each member of your club can participate by filling his or her own box. If you cannot afford to deliver them to the headquarters in Oklahoma (as requested on the website), try following the organizations guidelines and delivering the boxes to local children in need. • What can be accomplished: This is a hands-on method to help relieve impoverished conditions of children either around the world or in your local community. With the ongoing recession, many schools have been cutting back on simple supplies and students who cannot afford such supplies in the first place can be helped by your participation. • • •

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http://feedingamerica.org/ (312) 641-6830 . About it: Feeding America works with large corporate donors to secure food and grocery products on a national level to distribute, as needed, to local food banks. Through a grant process, Feeding America provides national funding to local food banks. The organization oversees the efforts of food banks including their volunteers and the help they receive during and after natural disasters. Done in the past: A program called Kids Cafe was set up by Feeding America to provide free meals and snacks to low-income children through a variety of community locations where children already congregate—such as Boys and Girls Clubs, churches or public schools. In addition to providing meals to kids, 17  

 

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some Kids Cafe programs also offer a safe place, where under the supervision of trustworthy staff, a child can get involved in educational, recreational and social activities. How to help: Your club can find a local Kids Cafe and volunteer there. Volunteers can help tutor children that are in the program or even just play with them. Try and set up a program with the Kids Cafe near you for which your club can send over members throughout the week or once a week to volunteer. What can be accomplished: Participating in this program helps your members get involved in the community. Tutoring the children at the Kids Cafes gives them incentive to do better in school and stay out of trouble.

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About it: A project popular in Kiwanis is garage sales. Kiwanians bring their personal items to sell then find an organization to donate the money, or if they are involved with an organization for a specific event they’ll host a garage sale to add to a donation. What has been done in the past: Kiwanis clubs hosted garage sales to raise money for different organizations. How to help: Get involved with a Kiwanis club’s garage sale. Have club members bring their personal items to sell at a garage sale. What can be accomplished: By getting involved with a Kiwanis club’s garage sale, you are helping out the organization they support as well as strengthening the relationship with your Kiwanis.

Graffiti Clean-up http://www.graffitihurts.org/community/organize.jsp About it: graffiti clean-ups are a great way for your club to get involved with the community and make a positive impact. By cleaning up graffiti from buildings, signs and other areas you are creating an image of organized and put-together neighborhoods and communities. You are also helping the community save money usually spent on graffiti clean-up • Done in the past: Key Clubs and other groups have done adopt-a-block to clean up graffiti in those areas. You can adopt-a-block at http://www.graffitihurts.org/community/adopt.jsp. • How to help: You can both get paint or cleaning supplies and organize a graffiti clean-up with your Key Club in the community. You can also adopt-a-block in your community and clean up that area. • What it can accomplish: By organizing a graffiti clean-up, your club is directly helping the community and making a positive impact. Buildings, signs and other areas will be free of graffiti which makes the community look clean and put together. • •

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http://www.grassrootsoccer.org/ About it: Using the power of soccer in the fight against AIDS, Grassroot Soccer provides African youth with the knowledge, skills and support to live HIV free. What has been done in the past: In the past, high schools have held “Lose the shoes” barefoot three vs. three tournaments to kick AIDS in Africa. 32 teams are formed and they compete against each other. How to help: You can get your Key Club, along with other big clubs in your school such as SGA, National Honors Society and others to form teams and compete against each other. You can ask your school to use the football field to hold the event. After raising at least $10.00 per member of your club, fill out the DCON award application for the UNICEF/Grassroots Soccer Banner Patch! What can be accomplished: By getting involved with Grassroot Soccer, we can help teach students in Africa the importance of staying HIV free.

http://www.guardianadlitem.org/ About it: The Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program is a partnership of community advocates and professional staff providing a powerful voice on behalf of Florida’s abused and neglected children. Done in the past: Normally, Key Clubs collect personal hygienic products to put together care packages for students in need. How to help: Conduct a hygienic product drive in your school. Once all of the products are collected, create gift baskets within your Key Club to be donated to Guardian Ad Litem. What can be accomplished: By providing gift baskets for Guardian Ad Litem, your club will be helping teens in need of hygienic supplies. This project ties in with the Key Club initiative; kids helping kids.

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About it: Habitat for Humanity is an organization dedicated to eliminating poverty homes and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelters. Relying on volunteers, this organization has built over 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. • What has been done in the past: Key Clubbers around the world have gotten with this community to build houses for people in need. • How to help: On the Habitat for Humanity website, there is a section to type in your zip code to find out where houses are being built in your area. Habitat for Humanity is a great organization for your Key Club to get involved with because building is hands on service and lots of fun. • What can be accomplished: By getting involved with Habitat for Humanity, your Key Club will be providing shelter for those less fortunate. It also makes you feel good and know you are actually making a positive difference. •

Halloween Safety http://www.halloween-safety.com/halloween_safety_kids.html About it: Teaching kids ways to stay safe on Halloween is imperative. It isn’t safe to let children roam the streets alone on Halloween while trick-or-treating. By teaching kids a few basic safety rules and making sure they don’t go anywhere alone, we can make Halloween a safe and fun experience for everyone. • What has been done in the past: Teaching kids a few basic safety rules before Halloween to ensure a safe holiday • How to help: Go to a local elementary school with K-Kids before Halloween and teach them basic safety rules. Try to be creative and make quizzes at the end with prizes. Raise awareness of the dangers that come with kids trick-or-treating alone on Halloween, go to a Kiwanis meeting and encourage parents to tag along. If needed, go trick-or-treating with kids in your community on Halloween so they aren’t alone. • What it can accomplish: By teaching kids basic safety rules to follow during Halloween, you are ensuring safety for children and creating a fun and memorable holiday. • •

Halloween Costume Drive About it: Costume drives are a great way for Key Clubbers to help out children less fortunate than them. Providing costumes for kids whose parents cannot afford them makes the holiday more fun for everyone! • What has been done in the past: Key Clubs have hosted costume drives and delivered the costumes to a local church or Boys and Girls Club. • How to help: Have your Key Club host a costume drive within your school and donate all the costumes to a local church, Boys and Girls Club, or orphanage. Hold the costume drive before the holiday, of course, so that these children •

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have something to wear and request that people donate previously worn clothes that are in good condition or newly purchased clothing. Right before the holiday and the drive is over, donate the costumes to the place of your club’s choice. Then, after the holiday, have a post-Halloween costume donation drive for which people can donate the costumes just worn. Keep these costumes for the next year, making the project an annual drive! • What it can accomplish: By having a costume drive you are providing an essential item for Halloween to children who may not have been able to afford a costume. Also, this project can be established as an annual event so it only builds the number of projects your club offers members every year, a great way to promote member retention.

www.homesforourtroops.org 866-7-TROOPS About it: Homes for Our Troops is a non-profit, non-partisan, 501 (c)(3) organization founded in 2004. This organization is strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to their country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries. We assist severely injured Servicemen and Women and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and then coordinating the process of building a new home or adapting an existing home for handicapped accessibility. The finished home is then given to the veteran. • Done in the past: • How to help: The best way to help out this organization is by organizing a fund raiser like a walk or a car wash or anything like it. Due to the fact that they already have people volunteering to build the houses, most of the time it is difficult to be chosen as a volunteer. However, try contacting the organization and tell them about the charity your specific club does and tell them you would be interested in starting a program for which your club members are allowed to volunteer in a local home-building project. Maybe you can establish a relationship with the organization that allows your members to assist in building every Saturday, every other Saturday, or even just once a month. • What can be accomplished: This project is a great way for your club to start making local relationships outside of the K-Family and its partners. If you can find a way to help out in their building, your club members will be doing a great service to those who do not have homes and have served our country. • • •

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http://www.handhmagic.org/ About It: Horses and the Handicapped is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 and located on the North side of Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek. They are dedicated to providing effective therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities for children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional difficulties. Done in the past: Key Clubs in the past have held fundraisers and donated to Horses and the Handicapped, as well as become volunteers. By simply paying 25 dollars Key Club members can become volunteers and help with such tasks as barn maintenance, assisting with classes, helping to groom the horses, and office assistance. How to Help: Club members can become volunteers and help to assist with classes and help to manage the stables. What can be accomplish: Through horses and the handicapped of South Florida Key Clubbers can change the lives of handicapped children to make their lives better, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2360 About it: Jump Rope for Heart was made to help prevent kids becoming overweight as adults, and to keep their hearts healthy by exercise. The program is dedicated to the many people who have died or survived heart diseases. When students participate they can tell friends or family to donate for research. This program also helps children realize how important being healthy. While jump roping, they can also have fun. • What has been done in the past: This project has traditionally taken place at a school's physical education class. • How to help: With your Key Club, go to a local elementary school and try to get a Jump Rope for Heart started in the school. If the school already participates, help set it up and provide entertainment and refreshments at the event. • What it can accomplish: By participating in Jump Rope for Heart you are helping kids learn the importance of heart health. • •

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http://www.kiwanisone.org/Pages/Resources/default.aspx?PageID=116 About it: Kiwanis Young Children Priority One (YCPO) is part of Kiwanis International and helps the needs of young children. Kiwanis clubs carry out a minimum of two YCPO projects each year. Kiwanis International started the YCPO program in October 1990 to focus on needs of kids 0-5. • What has been done in the past: Kiwanis clubs have identified the needs of children in their areas and developed service projects based on those needs and the means they have to work with. • How to help: By getting with your club’s sponsoring Kiwanis, you can help determine what’s needed in your area and help the Kiwanis club develop a service project. • What can be accomplished: By getting involved with your Kiwanis club to help develop a service project, you are not only strengthening the bond between the Key Club and Kiwanis Club, but also helping the community of children. • •

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About it: Picnics are a great way for people to come together, get to know each other, and eat great food! Picnics can also be held in the form of a barbeque. These are great traditions that can be established for your K-Family and a time to make contacts and give your Kiwanians incentive to be more involved. Done in the past: Some Kiwanis divisions have held K-Family picnics for which they invite everyone in their area to come eat and celebrate the success of Key Club. How to help: Instead of having your local Kiwanis host a K-Family picnic, let your club take the initiative and plan it yourself! Send out invitations and fliers to your Kiwanians and the other K-Family members inviting them to a picnic that your club hosts. Set it up at a Kiwanis park or local park for a weekend afternoon. Make sure to plan games and recognize important K-Family members that may be present at the picnic. Delegate responsibilities among your club members and Kiwanians to bring food for the picnic or games. You can even charge people a few dollars to come to the picnic to raise money for an organization. What can be accomplished: This is one of the greatest ways your club can established those long-awaited relationships with your Kiwanis club. Everyone will bond and have a blast, showing members how much fun Key Club can be! You may even be able to get some fundraising out of the event!

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http://slp.kiwanis.org/kkids/home.aspx   About it: K-Kids is the youngest and fastest growing service organization for elementary students worldwide. These clubs are ideally suited for students in grades 1 through 5 (ages 6 to 12). K-Kids is a "student-led" community-service organization, which operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body. K-Kids clubs can also be established in a communitybased organization. Such organizations might include, but are not limited to: community library, Boys Club, Girls Club, YMCA, YWCA, or a church.   Done in the past: Clubs that are affiliated with a K-Kids have in the past been their mentors and advisors just as Kiwanians are to us.   How to help: If your club is affiliated with a local K-Kids, start a weekly program at your school for which you send members over to mentor and advise the K-Kids. Be their peers and help them come up with creative and effective projects, offering to pick up supplies for the projects when needed. If your Kiwanis Club does not sponsor a K-Kids, talk to them about finding a nearby elementary school to start the program in. Have your Kiwanis Club speak to the principal of the school about having the club. Make posters, announcements, and membership recruitment incentives for the school and be at the first meeting to explain to them with the Kiwanians what K-Family and K-Kids specifically is all about. Once things get settled, allow the K-Kids to be more autonomous but continue to be their prime advisors, going to their meetings each week.   What can be accomplished: Most of the K-Kids will continue on to middle school to participate in a Builders Club if in existence. Then where do they go? To Key Club! So basically, your club is preparing leaders for tomorrows Key Club, an effort that will be extremely advantageous in the future. Your club will also serve as role models for these kids, and who better a role model than a Key Clubber!  

http://slp.kiwanis.org/KeyClub/wwa/partnersandprojects/mep/live2learn.aspx About it: Live to Learn is the 2008-2010 service initiative for Key Club International. It focuses on helping children ages 5-9 overcome learning obstacles so that they can be successful students and give back to their homes, schools and communities. The three components of Live to Learn include improving grades, giving back, and growing together.

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What’s been done in the past: Key Clubbers across the world participate in Live to Learn by tutoring and mentoring at local elementary schools and Boys and Girls Clubs. They teach these students about service and the importance of giving back by conducting joint-service projects. How to help: With your Key Club, go to a local elementary school or community center in need and speak with the Activities Director about conducting service projects and providing homework help. What can be accomplished: By working with these children not only are you exposing them to the Kiwanis Family, but also instilling important values at a young age.

http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls (800) 955-4572 About it: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $600 million in research specifically targeting blood cancers. • Done in the past: Key Clubs have participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s walk called Light the Night, which is held in numerous cities across the country. • How to help: Organize a walk in your school or community; this is a great way to raise money. Also visit the website to see if the LLS is holding a walk or an event near you. • What can be accomplished: By raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society you are helping to fund international research for a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma. • • •

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http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html (202) 349-1155 About it: The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and

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cure for lupus and providing support, services and hope to all people affected by lupus. • Done in the past: In the past people participate in the fundraising events that were set up by the Lupus foundation, in order to provide money for research and treatment. • How to help: Hold a service fair raising awareness for Lupus. You can have a concession stand and all the money you raise can be donated to The Lupus Foundation of America. • What can be accomplished: Holding a service fair would educate people about the disease Lupus.

http://www.wish.org (602) 279-9474 About it: Welcome to Wish.org, the online home of the nation’s largest wishgranting organization. Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has given hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. From our humble beginnings with one boy’s wish to be a police officer, we’ve evolved into an organization that grants a child’s wish in the U.S. every 40 minutes." • Done in the past: In the past help from local donations and volunteer help make a childs dream come true. • How to help: Donate items such as iPods, Game Boys, etc. or raise money for the organization. • What can be accomplished: Donating items or money to this organization will help grant a wish of a child with a life-threatening illness. • • •

http://www.marchofdimes.com/ (813) 287-2600 About it: March of Dimes strives to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. • Done in the past: Clubs have participated in walks held by March of Dimes as it has been one of the most popular projects for Key Clubs to do for many years. Clubs have helped plan walks as well and kept in close communication with board members of the March of Dimes. • How to help: One of the best methods of doing service for this organization is by spreading the word of its existence and purpose. Your club can participate in a local walk or hold a March of Dimes drive at your school for which you can sell • • •

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baby bracelets and/or students can donate coins to March of Dimes. Make March of Dimes events a tradition for your club and try to get involved in the planning of events. Find out when a local walk is and start forming a group with your Key Club, asking members to raise money for the event. • What can be accomplished: Proceeds that go to March of Dimes fund research on how to prevent premature births and help premature babies get the care they need. By participating in this foundation, your club will be able to interact with Key Clubs in your area since most are active with March of Dimes.

http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/ (415) 289-7325 About it: The Marine Mammal Center recognizes human interdependence with marine mammals and their importance as sentinels of the ocean environment, the health of which is essential for all life. • Done in the past: Volunteers have adopted seals • How to help: Your club can adopt a seal with a relatively small donation that will help to care for it for a period of time. Then, take your club on a trip or a few trips to visit the seal if the center is near your school so that your members can meet the seal they’re supporting. Or, you can encourage your entire division or zone to adopt a seal or multiple seals. • What can be accomplished: Because of support from clubs and volunteers the Marine Mammal Center can release healthy animal back into their natural habitats. This can also be something for your club, division, or zone to rally around and will unite everyone. • • •

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http://www.mowaa.org (708) 548-8024 About it: The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to people in need. MOWAA works toward the social, physical, nutritional, and economic betterment of vulnerable Americans. The Meals On Wheels Association of America provides the tools and information its programs need to make a difference in the lives of others.

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Done in the past: Many Key Clubs have volunteered at food banks and others have visited retirement homes. This project is practically a combination of both and has been an easy way to have fun while doing service. • How to help: Volunteer at your local Meals on Wheels organization. At many programs, volunteers assist in the kitchen, preparing meals or packing them for delivery. All Meals On Wheels programs have events and fundraisers that require extra help – including planning and organizing, publicity, onsite setup and staffing and much more. Ask your local program if there are upcoming events that you can help with. Some Meals On Wheels programs provide congregate meals in addition to home delivered meals – serving meals at a central location, where seniors can come to eat together. For programs that include a senior center, there are many opportunities available for those interested in helping with activities, meal service and other tasks. • What can be accomplished: By volunteering at meals on wheels you are helping the cause to make sure no senior goes hungry. •

www.purpleheart.org (877) 277-3668 About it: The Military Order of the Purple Heart is a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to helping veterans for over 75 years. Over 500,000 donors have trusted Purple Heart with their vehicle donation. In fact, many of our donors have found the donation process so convenient and rewarding that they have become repeat donors. • Done in the past: People have donated used cars to the organization to provide transportation for veterans. • How to help: Locate your local Purple Heart Association and donate Clothing, cell phones that you are not using, and Cars (running or not running). It may be more difficult to have students from your school donate cars, so try and make this a community-wide effort. Few car donations will probably be made, but it’s worth a try! Otherwise, your club can hold a clothing drive throughout the school or even a cell phone drive, something that many people have extras of from years past that go unused. Advertise the drives throughout your school but be sure to get the community involved and families of your classmates. Remember, most of the clothes collected should be for adults and not children! • What can be accomplished: This project will help provide needed clothing to veterans as well as cell phones to some that may not have. Cars, of course are rare, but definitely one of the best gifts to give! Your club will be showing its appreciation of the veterans’ work and efforts they put into defending our country, something we cannot express enough of our gratitude for. • • •

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http://www.mda.org/ 1-800-FIGHT-MD (344-4863) About it: This is an organization founded to provide research, care, and treatment to the lives of those affected by muscular dystrophy. • Done in the past: Clubs have sold Muscular Dystrophy shamrocks and volunteered and participated in walks. • How to help: Volunteer at a Muscular Dystrophy Association camp or an event for kids with Muscular Dystrophy such as a golf or bowling tournament. • What can be accomplished: Raising money for Muscular Dystrophy can help fund research to find a cure and volunteering at a Muscular Dystrophy camp or event can help kids with muscular dystrophy. • • •

www.nmfa.org (703) 931-6632 About it: The National Military Family Association (NMFA) was organized in 1969 as the National Military Wives Association by a group of wives and widows seeking financial security for survivors of uniformed service personnel and retirees. From their efforts, the Survivor Benefit Plan came into being. In the ensuing years, NMFA has been in the vanguard of advocacy for improvements in the quality of military family life. The name of the organization was changed in 1984 to reflect the broad scope of its involvement. NMFA is a non-profit 501(c)(3)association. • Done in the past: In the past, groups have gathered together to donate clothes and money to the organization, they have also volunteered in their area by filling out the volunteer application found on the website. • How to help: By donating clothing and cash to help families whose husbands, wives, sons, dad's and brothers are in the Military. You can also do a walk and raise money and/or clothes to be donated. • What can be accomplished: By getting involved with the National Military Family Association you can help uniformed survivors, retirees and their families who’ve been affected to make their lives better. • • •

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http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/ About It: Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved with the project.   Done in the past: Key Clubs in the past have had their club as well as students of their school bring in donations of shoe boxes, wrapping paper, and small nonperishable items to be shipped overseas. How to help: Gather your Key Club members as well as community members and have them donate wrapping paper, shoe boxes, and small non-perishable toys. One day, have everyone gather together and pack the boxes and wrap them. It’s a fun service project that gives you a chance to help the world while working with your key club and community. What can be accomplished: By getting Key clubbers and students to donate and participate in Operation Christmas Child, Key clubbers can help bring joy to children on Christmas morning who usually would not receive presents.

Park Renovations and Clean-ups http://www.floridastateparks.org/ About it: The Florida Park Service manages 160 state parks consisting of more than 700,000 acres. With more than 21 million visitors a year, it is a challenge to provide quality visitor services with just a little more than 1,000 employees. Years after being built, especially after consistent use and Florida rainy weather, much of a park’s resources begin to wear away, signaling a need for renovation. • Done in the past: They claim they could not do as good a job without the help of thousands of volunteers. Volunteers contributed more than 1.2 million hours last year, which is the same as 581 additional full time positions. Key Club members have always been helpful in cleaning up trash along highways, at beaches, and even in parks. • How to help: Volunteers can do many things -- greet visitors, conduct tours, help rangers remove exotic plants or maintain the natural beauty of a beach, waterway or trail. Groups can adopt trails, portions of a park or even an entire park. Students can participate in internship programs or bring a group to a park to provide service as an alternative "spring break." Take your club to a local park once a week and clean up as much as you can in just a few hours. Make this a tradition for your club. Contact the local park and find out if there are specific projects that they need help with and have your members sign up to participate. Your club can also ask the park if any renovations are necessary in the park. • •

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What can be accomplished: Thousands of visitors from across the world visit Florida parks every year. Keep our parks clean and take pride in where we live! Anything broken that your club may repair makes our parks just that much cleaner and safer.

www.operationsmile.org About it: Operation Smile is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 130,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in 51 countries. Done in the past: Key Clubs have participated in walks for Operation Smile, as well as put together fundraising events, and donated money to Operation Smile. Some students get together to start a operation smile club at their school. How to help: Your club can participate by holding an Operation Smile walk-athon at your school. You can also participate in the 2009-2010 District Convention Operation Smile Walk-A-Thon and help with any donations. What can be accomplished: With each donation made, you club can provide a child with surgery to improve the look of his or her smile. The money donated will go to 51 different countries and “In as little as 45 minutes one surgery can change a child’s life.”

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About it: Pancake breakfasts are a great way for Kiwanis clubs, Key Clubs and Builders Clubs to work together as part of the K-Family. They are also an awesome way for the three organizations to raise money for local organizations. Done in the past: Key Clubs have gotten together with their sponsoring Kiwanis Clubs and Builders Clubs to host a pancake breakfast. The Kiwanians usually picks the location while the Key Clubbers make the pancakes and the Builders Clubbers serve coffee and juice. Tickets are either sold in advance or at the door; prices are determined by the Kiwanis Club. How to help: Contact your local Kiwanis club and Builders Club and host a pancake breakfast. Ask your Key Clubbers or a local grocery store to donate supplies needed for the breakfast, and contact a local organization to donate the proceeds to. What can be accomplished: By hosting a Pancake Breakfast, not only is your Key Club working with the K-Family but they are also raising money for a good cause. 31  

 

http://rmhc.org/ (630) 623-7048 About it: For nearly 35 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) has been creating, finding and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well being of nearly 3.7 million children worldwide every year. The mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. • Done in the Past: In the past key clubs have collected and donated soda can tabs. Collecting soda can tabs has been one of the easiest projects a club can do. • How to help: Your club can help do household chores and make evening meals for families with a child in the hospital. Your club can also set up a school-wide soda can competition between grades, clubs, or even just individuals. Get your own members more involved by having them collect tabs at home as well. Your club can put out boxes around the school for tab collection and advertise their presence. Make this a year-round project that your club is constantly advertising. • What can be accomplished: This is a great way to help families who have children in the hospital. • • •

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www.relayforlife.org 1-800-ACS-2345 About it: Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Done in past: In the past clubs have formed teams and participated in Relay For Life which raises money for the American Cancer Society. How to help: Have your club start a team and participate in Relay For Life. What can be accomplished: Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a lifechanging experience. At Relay, every person in the community has a chance to celebrate, remember, and fight back. And every person who participates joins others around the globe as part of this worldwide movement to end cancer. 32  

 

http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss.nsf About it: The Salvation Army is an international movement, an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. • Done in the Past: The Salvation Army has been one of the most internationally recognized organizations for a long time, a great incentive for Key Clubs to assist with donations and volunteer work. • How to help: There are a number of programs The Salvation Army offers for your club to get involved with including disaster relief, clothing drives, car donations, and monetary donations. By having a clothing drive and donating the items to Salvation Army houses throughout Florida, your club will also be participating in the FCADV Clothes Drive and competing for recognition at DCON. • What can be accomplished: The Salvation Army is a great organization to work with as they have left behind great results across the world. • •

http://www.specialolympics.org/ (202) 628-3630 About it: Dignity, acceptance, and a chance to reach one’s potential – these are human rights worth promoting for everyone. Since 1968, Special Olympics has been bringing one message to the world: people with intellectual disabilities can and will succeed if given the opportunity. • Done in the past: Key Clubbers have volunteered at the Special Olympics by keeping score at games and helping the participants. • How to help: Clubs should contact their local Special Olympics coordinator. You will be running events and helping participants during the day. • What you can accomplish: When you volunteer for the Special Olympics, you are helping raise awareness about intellectual disabilities and you are providing an athlete with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to experience the excitement, joy, and personal fulfillment. • • •

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(803) 788-3476 About it: Souper Bowl of caring is a nationally run project started by the Miami Dolphins. The basic goal of the project is to collect and donate as many cans of food as possible to local homeless shelters or any organization that collects cans. Some groups may opt to collect money as well as for donation. Done in past: Clubs have held canned food drives at their schools for the Souper Bowl of Caring project, particularly in the South Florida area. How to help: This is a district-recognized project and one for which the winner will be awarded and recognized at DCON. The time period of donation for this project will be November 1 through February 28. Donations of cans are not to a specific organization, but to any. So start looking for places that accept can donations to prepare for the competition. As November gets closer, have your club organize the canned food drive throughout your school, make fliers and posters to give out and hang up. If your club plans on donating throughout the competition and to various places, each time a donation is made be sure to email Project Coordinator Nate Shammay at [email protected] and District Service Chair Samantha Greissman at [email protected]. Nate will use the information emailed to him( number of cans donated, to where, and by whom) to post on his website which will be the hub of the project where each club can view their position in the competition. In order to apply later for awards at DCON, be sure to ask for authentication of donation each time one is made either through a letter or receipt stating how many cans were donated. After February and DCON approaches, be sure to fill out an application in the Contests and Awards Packet for a Banner Patch (any club who donates 200 cans or more) and/or a trophy for the winner. What this can accomplish: Donating canned food items to Souper Bowl of Caring helps ensure that homeless people are fed. Also, because this is a districtwide project, you are helping promote Florida District service!

http://www.toysfortots. org/ (703) 643-9433 About it: The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. • Done in the past: Clubs have donated toys to this organization and held competitions in order to collect as many as possible. Clubs have also had toy • • •

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drives in the past and donated them to other organizations, but this is just one of many that your club can consider. • How to help: Have a toy drive at your school and collect new toys for underprivileged children. Have your club advertise for a competition between grades or clubs. Give incentives for whichever can collect the most toys. Make sure your club advertises in advance, but also make sure this drive does not conflict with other drives that may be held at your school. If possible, try and make this toy drive a tradition for your Key Club, assuring that every year a project will be done over the holiday season. • What can be accomplish: The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

Teddy Bear Drive About it: Hold a Teddy Bear drive at your school. Done in the Past: Key Clubs have donated Teddy Bears to children’s hospitals and police stations. • How to help: Your Key Club can host a teddy bear drive at school, possible making it a competition with incentives to bring in the most teddy bears. Your club can design the competition however it likes, between grades, advisories, or even other clubs. Whoever wins should be given a prize such as an ice cream or pizza party. After the drive is over, consider taking your Key Club to a local hospital in order to distribute the collected teddy bears. While at the hospital, see if your club can get permission to spend time with the sick children either reading, playing games, or even just hugging their new teddy bear friend. • What can be accomplish: This is a great way to comfort sick kids in the hospital and give them something to occupy their time with while there. • •

http://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/ 1-800-FOR-KIDS About it: UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) is a Key Club Major Emphasis Project that is easy to get involved in. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a great way to raise money for UNICEF. Your Club can even go trick-or-treating with K-kids. • Done in the past: In the past clubs have gone trick-or-treating around their communities and donated the coins to UNICEF. This has been a popular project for nearly every Key Club in existence. • How to help: Get your UNICEF boxes at a local Hallmark or Pier 1 Imports store and distribute them out to each of your club members. Encourage your members to go trick-or-treating with the boxes, asking at each door for donations to the fund. If the person who comes to the door does not know • • •

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what UNICEF is, be prepared to explain to them what it’s all about as a means of possibly getting a donation or even a larger one! It might be a good idea to team up with a K-Kids that your club is affiliated with, if it has one, and go trickor-treating with them. After Halloween, collect all the boxes from your members and submit the money to UNICEF. • What this can accomplish: Raising money for UNICEF in itself is a great experience, especially because it takes place during Halloween. If your club can trick-or-treat with a few K-Kids then this is just one way for your members to set an example for the younger children and motivate them to stay in Key Club, aka member retention!

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www.liveunited.org (703) 836-7112 About it: United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement. Local United Ways create long-lasting community change by addressing the underlying causes of the most significant local issues. Common focus areas include helping children and youth achieve their potential, promoting financial stability and independence, and improving people’s health. Done in the past: Clubs have donated school supplies for underprivileged children. How to help: Donate schools supplies for underprivileged children or volunteer to tutor children at a United Way center. What can this accomplish: Donating schools supplies will enhance a child’s educational experience.

Valentine’s Day Party About it: Valentine’s Day is the special day for love, and one of the best days for you to show your love for the community. • Done in the past: Key Clubs have organized parties at local Boys and Girls Clubs or hospitals for children who may not be getting enough love at home or are just away from their loved ones for the time being. • How to help: Your club could throw a Valentine’s Day party at a local Boys & Girls Club or a children’s hospital. Plan a party. Get decorations, food, and plan fun games for everyone. Invite your entire club to the party and maybe have each member bring a box of chocolates or a bear to distribute to the children. •

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Play games with them and sing songs, entertain them and show them your love! You could have your members make cards for the children too. • What can this accomplish: This is a great way to meet and spend time with younger, maybe even ill kids and a great way to brighten up at least someone’s day.

Visits at Veteran Hospitals http://www.va.gov/ About it: Visit with veterans at a veteran’s hospital. Done in the past: Key Clubs have visited both veteran hospitals and retirement homes to do pretty much the same service: entertain the people at both and give them something extra to look forward to. • How to help: Find a local veterans hospital and call to see what their visitors hours are or if they accept visitors at all. Bring a few volunteers from your club to the center to talk, play games, or even just sit with the veterans. Bring some pictures of your friends and family to share with the veterans. Play bingo or other games with them too. You can read to them or just sit and talk with them, whatever they want! You can make this a weekly or monthly project for your club and eventually your members will get to know one or more of the veterans pretty well and want to go back even more often! Ask the hospital if they need assistance with anything else besides just being friends to the veterans, you never know what kind of service opportunities they may offer for your members. • What can this accomplish: By visiting the hospital, your club members are not only providing a great service to people who may have lost their family and loved ones, but they are also making new friends for themselves! Maybe one day you won’t be able to get your members to leave the hospital and their friends! • • •

Vacation Day Care • • • •

About it: Plan activities for young children during their break from school. Done in past: Clubs have organized activities like picnics and football games and have parents bring their kids during their breaks. How to help: Plan activities for children such as movies, a game day, or a day at the park during their break from school. What this can accomplish: By planning activities for local children during their break you can keep them off the streets, help them stay active and not just waste their days at home watching television and playing video games.

Valentines for Veterans •

About it: Valentine’s Day cards for war veterans. 37  

 

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Done in past: In the past Key Clubs have made cards during their meetings to donate to their local veterans hospital. How to help: At a club meeting or divisional council meeting get several members together and make valentines cards for war veterans. Collect them all and have them sent to a local hospital for the veterans. What this can accomplish: With this project you can help veterans feel acknowledged and let them know that they are appreciated for everything they have done for this country.

Valet Parking • • •

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About it: Raise money at your school activities, proms, talent shows etc. and donate it to your favorite charity. Done in past: In the past clubs have volunteered during their school’s activities and raised money for a specific charity. How to help: Your club can volunteer at a school activity and get people that are good drivers and valet park peoples’ cars for a small donation to the charity of your club’s choice. Be sure to advertise that the money is going to a charity and which one. Work with the club at your school whose event you are volunteering at to make this as successful as possible. What this can accomplish: This project can not only help your club raise money for a charity, but the people whose cars you are parking so they don’t have to walk. What a win-win situation!

www.vca.org (408) 296-1113 About it: The Vanished Children's Alliance (VCA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting all children from disappearing. To ensure children's safety, VCA educates the public and professionals about the serious issue of abducted and runaway children. VCA works to prevent, locate, and recover child victims and reunite them with their families in collaboration with law enforcement, other credible service agencies, and communities at large. • Done in the past: Donations have been made to VCA to support the organization. Also, volunteers with different skills useful to the organization have helped out in numerous ways. • How to help: In order to help the VCA, your Key Club can make a donation through the website, or volunteer by downloading the “Volunteer Application” • • •

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on the “How to help” page of the website. You can also contact your local VCA to find out how to hold a learning treat to teach parents child safety tips. • What can be accomplished: By participating with VCA, your Key Club can help bring missing children back to their families and educate parents with child safety tips.

www.wilderness.org 1-800-THE-WILD About it: Since 1935, the Wilderness Society has led the conservation movement in the wilderness protection, writing and passing the landmark Wilderness Act and winning lasting protection for 107 acres of wilderness, including 56 million acres of spectacular lands in Alaska, eight million acres of fragile desert lands in California and millions more throughout the nation. Their Mission is to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. • Done in the past: Key Clubs in the past have made students aware of their energy consumption and overall ecological footprint, as well as the Governor’s Project for last year was focused on Going Green and making students aware of how to create a better environment. • How to help: How can you help? By consuming less energy and helping other people by going green. You can also donate at their website to help protect our wilderness. • What can be accomplished: Through making members aware of what they can do to help the environment, they can become more aware and responsible for the environment. • • •

www.worldvillages.org (301) 779-4141 About it: Their mission is to help poor children break free from a life of poverty, suffering and despair. It helps more than 22,000 poor children with food, clothing, and medical care. They have children from Mexico, Philippines, Brazil, Guatemala, and Korea. • Done in the past: People all around the world have been Guardian Angels to these children, wearing their pins that signify their support with pride.

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How to help: You can be a “Guardian Angel” and guarantee regular income for the children, there is no monthly dues so you can donate any amount you'd like each month or you can just donate one time. • What can be accomplished: The children probably won't know who you are, but they will know that somewhere, someone loves them enough to share their blessings. Supporting a child like this is a great way to unite your club and checking up in him/her frequently will give your members something to look forward to. •

www.worldwildlife.org (202) 293-4800 About it: For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature. • Done in the past: In the past people have fundraised money and done activities like car washes and have donated the money to the WWF to help support all the research. • How to help: If you care about the wildlife and want to help the researchers and the workers to better help the wildlife animals. You can also do fund raisers and raise money to donate to the cost. • What can be accomplished: By raising money and donating it to the WWF you can help research and help better the animals’ habitat. • • •

http://www.worldvision.org/ About it: World Vision is a Christian Humanitarian charity organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. • Done in the past: Key Clubs have participated in 30 hour famines or other events hosted by World Vision. A 30 hour famine is an event where Key Clubbers sponsored by family members, the community, and corporations gather and go 30 hours without eating to raise money for World Vision. • •

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How to help: Participate in a 30 hour famine event. Your Key Club can also sponsor a child by donating money every month to World Vision. The money goes to providing food, water, education, and medical attention. They will send your club updates on how the child is doing. • What can be accomplished: Your club will be helping out many kids and young adults and families reach their full potential. Your club will be helping stop the causes of poverty and injustice. •

www.wri.org (202) 729-7600 About it: WRI is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people’s lives. Their missions are to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. • Done in the past: In the past clubs have done so many fundraisers to help out the environment and there are clubs who have done such things as dances to raise money for the environment. • How to help: You can fundraise and send money to help support the researchers and help make the environment a better place. • What can be accomplished: Clubs can help with the research on how to better the environment and how you can make a difference. • • •

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www.wn.org (405) 752-9700 About it: World Neighbors is an international development organization striving to eliminate hunger, poverty and disease in the poorest, most isolated rural villages in Asia, Africa and Latin America. World Neighbors invests in people and their communities by training and inspiring them to create their own lifechanging solutions through programs in agriculture, literacy, water, health and environmental protection. Since 1951, more than 25 million people in 45 countries have transformed their lives with the support of World Neighbors.

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Done in the past: Clubs have volunteered or have done fundraisers to help donate money towards the WN. How to help: You can volunteer as an intern at their headquarters, or in any of their offices. You can also donate money, adopt a village, or donate a car. What can be accomplished: Your club can help eliminate hunger, poverty, disease in places such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

www.womenforwomen.org (202) 737-7705 About it: Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. We're changing the world one woman at a time. • Done in the past: In the past, clubs have organized walks and have had the CEO and sponsors of WFWI come help and be part of the walk. • How to help: You can help by organizing a Run for Congo Women walk and raise money to donate it. • What can be accomplished: Your club can help a lot of women who are survivors of wars and help them move from their crisis to stability. • • •

www.ymca.net About it: The nation’s 2,686 YMCAs respond to critical social needs by drawing on our collective strength as of one of the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in the United States. Today's YMCAs serve thousands of U.S. communities, uniting 21 million children and adults of all ages, races, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. Our reach and impact can be seen in the millions of lives we touch every year. • Done in the past: In the past there has always been events held at YMCA they always have something new where they need help. They have done haunted houses, Christmas breakfast, and such stuff that involves getting volunteers. • How to help: Your local YMCA is always looking for people to volunteer at one of their local events they also have people donate money to help make events happen and help families around the community. • What can be accomplished: By helping out and volunteering you are making it possible for underprivileged people to have fun and be able to see that there is more to life than just being underprivileged. • •

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