What We Do

Projects and Activities

Our Kiwanis club participates in a variety of projects throughout the year that involve fundraising, community service, and assisting children locally and worldwide.  Additionally, we have speakers at our weekly meetings to explore topics of interest to the membership. We engage in a number of social activities to share experiences, talents and our collective interests. All represent great opportunities for service, friendships and personal growth. See the “contact our board members” page to reach out to any board member for additional volunteer or membership information

Below are projects and activities in which we are currently involved:

• Assembling Weekend snack packs for food insecure children – Weekly on Wednesdays at 3 pm and Thursdays at 9:30 am at The Glen House Food Pantry Snack Center, 800 N Roosevelt Rd, Glen Ellyn
• Ronald McDonald House – Make meals for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House while their children are in the hospital – Quarterly
• Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center – provide refreshments, tutoring and weekly snack packs
• Summer snack packs for the Glen Ellyn Public Library
• Food Drive – April & September food collected & proceeds go to the Glen House Food Pantry
• Go Baby Go – May assemble handicap accessible Karts for kids
• Fish Release – April release fish in Lake Ellyn in partnership with Glen Ellyn Park District Earth week
• Halloween Festival – October in partnership with Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce
• Warm Coats for Cool Kids – November donation and assist choosing and fitting coats for children
• Secret Santa – December for the children in partnership with the Glen Ellyn Junior Women Club
• Shop with a Cop – December Providing snack packs and assisting with shopping and wrapping gifts in partnership with the Glen Ellyn Police Department

Below are fundraising activities we hold throughout the year:

• Pickleball tournament – April – raising money for Kiwanis Neuroscience Research Foundation
• Onion & Hanging Basket Sale – March/May – Vidalia onions and hanging plants
• Holiday Nuts Sale – October/December – Nuts and chocolates for Holiday gift giving

Service Leadership Programs

Our club mentors youth in grades 6-18 through our sponsorship of Service Leadership Programs. These programs were formed by Kiwanis International to empower people at every stage of life to become competent, capable, and compassionate leaders by helping them learn to help others. They also enable young leaders to serve their communities and open doors for them to change the world.

Kiwanis Key Club is for students ages 14-18

Our Kiwanis Club supports Key Club service projects, facilitate their meetings, provides mentorships and college scholarships for the Key Club students. We are currently sponsoring the following Kiwanis Key Clubs:

• Glenbard South Key Club
• Glenbard West Key Club

Kiwanis Builders Club is for students ages 11-14

We support Builders Club service projects, facilitate their meetings and provide mentorships. Our Kiwanis Club brings in food and treats and recognizes, supports and encourages the kids, through example, so they feel empowered to do great things in their communities. We sponsor the following Kiwanis Builders Clubs:

• Glen Crest School Builder’s Club

Kiwanis Aktion Club is for adults living with disabilities

Our Kiwanis Club supports the social programs of Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, WSDRA in Carol Stream.

Scholarships and grants

We provided scholarships to 2 high school Seniors from Glenbard West and 2 high school Seniors from Glenbard South. We also provided a scholarship to Teen Parent Connection.