Kiwanis Club of Garland is an organization dedicated to the well-being of children in the community. As a global organization, Kiwanis International has a presence in 80 countries with 550,000 members of all ages. There are K-Kids Clubs for elementary age children, Key Clubs for teens and Kiwanis for adults.
The K-Kids group is at Kimberlin Elementary School and the teen groups are at Garland High School and North Garland High School.
Kiwanis Club was founded in 1915 in Detroit under a different name and became Kiwanis International in 1916. It began as a business networking organization, but the mission was changed to helping kids in 1919.
In addition to its focus on children, Kiwanis is known for its inclusivity and is open to everyone.
As local clubs, like Garland Kiwanis, help children in the community, Kiwanis International focuses on larger challenges like disease and poverty. They believe that “When you give a child the chance to learn, experience, dream, grow, succeed and thrive, great things can happen.”
Our local Kiwanis Club hosts events on an annual basis as well as on an as needed basis. One of their most popular annual events is Pancakes with Santa. Families are invited to eat pancakes, take photos with Santa and explore firetrucks at a Garland fire station. The funds raised provide scholarships for Garland ISD students, funding for Key Clubs and K-Clubs and donations for local charitable organizations such as Salvation Army and Good Samaritans of Garland. In addition, the club has provided uniforms for Garland ISD students, snacks for students and teachers, held coat drives for kids and more.
The group also hosts an annual event that shines a light on other local organizations that need volunteers and provides community members a chance to find volunteer opportunities that suit them.
The members are passionate about their mission and invest many hours in achieving their goals. The group is hoping to recruit more members so that they can help meet more of the community’s needs. Current club president, Elvia Flores, explained that Kiwanis and other charitable organizations are having difficulty finding volunteers. She added that the problem is a result of the pandemic.
Flores, who has been a Kiwanis Club member for 29 years, joined because of the group’s passion for service and making a difference one child at a time.
“I love their commitment to serving the Garland community,” she said. “I love Kiwanis!”
Another member, Jo McKenna, said that she had taken her niece to Pancakes with Santa for a few years. As her niece got older, she decided that they should be doing something to give back. That’s when her journey with Kiwanis began.
“We’re a group that loves and supports our community to make a positive difference,” she said. “It’s an honor to mentor and watch the youth in our K-Kids and Key Clubs grow each year. Together we strive to build and see a better world for years to come.”
Elisa Morales said that service with the Kiwanis Club is rewarding. It’s important to her that the club is always looking for opportunities to help children in the community from their sock and coat drive to the Pancakes with Santa event.
“Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces makes all our tireless efforts worth it,” Morales said. “Our children are our future and it’s important that as a community, we provide all the necessary tools for them to be successful in their education.”
MAKE PLANS NOW TO COME TO THIS YEAR’S PANCAKES WITH SANTA EVENT – DEC. 10 AT THE DOWNTOWN FIRE STATION – 1019 AUSTIN STREET IN GARLAND.