The March 16 Foster Care Closet service event was a very accurate reflection of Nebraska's weather. Volunteers Sandi Lewis, Marilyn Scheinost, Mindy Vyhnalek and Cheryl Ross sorted clothes that ranged from short-sleeved tops and shorts to hooded sweat shirts and sweatpants. Two hours passed quickly with the group taking off labels, affixing coding stickers, and sorting and organizing clothes that ranged in size from 2T to size 14. At the end of our "shift", the Warehouse Manager, Jennifer, joined us for a picture.
Judging by the picture of bags of clothes to be organized, the Foster Care Closet was more than happy to put CCK's group of 7 volunteers (Linda Boeckner, Sandi Lewis, Marilyn Napier, Marilyn Scheinost, Sandy Scheinost, Mindy Vyhnalek and Cheryl Ross) to work March 23 sorting items by gender, season (Spring /Summer) and size (0-3 months up to kids size 14, plus men's and women's sizes). Additional volunteer groups will continue organizing the contents of the bags as the Foster Care Closet prepares to start another Mobile Closet season as well as relocating to a new space, some time in April or May, at The Center for People.
K-KIDS KINDNESS VISIT
On March 24, the Pyrtle K-Kids visited the people at the CountryHouse Residence. They sang some popular vintage songs that everyone knows and can sing along with. They also greeted each person that attended with a smile and handed out "Kindness Cards" that were made by the students at Pyrtle Elementary school. Their next (and last) meeting is a bowling party on April 28th to celebrate the end of the school year.
SPARTAN VILLAGE DRIVE
The donation box was overflowing with items contributed by CCK members at the first of two 2026 Spartan Village Drives for Lincoln East High School. Priority items requested were clothing (sweats, socks, etc.); food (soup, mac and cheese bowls, granola bars, etc.); and hygiene items (shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.). April 7 will be the last drive date sponsored by the YCPO Committee. Marilyn Scheinost volunteered to deliver the club's contributions to Spartan Village.
MARCH EAST HIGH KEY CLUB ACTIVITIES
MOW bags, dog toys, baseball concessions, Spartan Village, and prep for elections at the club level as well as the District level summarizes March activities for East High Key Club. Attendance was down at our three meetings as many members participate in spring sports. Some numbers from March—additional 44 MOW decorated bags bringing our total for the year to 859, 21 dog toys made, 59 hours by seven members working alongside CCK members at baseball concessions, and 4 members attending Capital City’s game night.
Key Club District convention was held March 20 to March 22 in West Des Moines, Iowa, with 14 East High members and two advisors attending. Three members were elected to the District Board including our very first Governor from East, as well as Bulletin Editor and LTG for Area 2. We received 4 club awards including Distinguished Club Annual Achievement (difficult to reach) and the K-Family and Single Service award for our collaboration with Pyrtle K-Kids and Capital City Kiwanis AND the hygiene kit project. In addition, ten members and two advisors received individual awards.
KEY OF HONOR AWARD TO EAST HIGH KEY CLUB FACULTY ADVISOR
The highest award of service in Key Club International has been awarded to Dr. Sarah Staples-Farmer, the Key Club Faculty Advisor, at Lincoln East High. This award honors a person who has made a lifelong positive impact upon youth in general and Key Club specifically. It is only the second time that the Nebraska-Iowa Key Club has been awarded this honor. East High Key Club members, Hailey Tran and Sophia Wang, nominated Sarah for this prestigious award and surprised Sarah at Key Club District Convention awards dinner on March 21 with their speeches about her impact upon Lincoln East Key Club and her students. The Key of Honor award can only be nominated by students and judged by the students on the International Board of Trustees at Key Club International. This honor dates back to 1941 and includes President John F. Kennedy, Senator Hubert Humphrey, and our only other Nebraska-Iowa recipient, Ron Petsch. Steve Siemens, Past President of Kiwanis International, and Ron Petsch, Past District Governor, formally presented the award to Sarah along with Hailey and Sophia. Sarah will be officially presented the award at Key Club International Convention in July in Dallas, Texas.
UNL BASEBALL
CONCESSION STAND
The 2026 UNL baseball concession stand season is now half over. Most of the games where very cool and windy which meant we sold a lot of hot chocolate and coffee. The East High School Key Club members have been a big help in us having a full staff to run the Dogs stand. They were quick learners and eager to help us out.
hours passed quickly with the group taking off labels, affixing coding stickers, and sorting and organizing clothes that ranged in size from 2T to size 14. At the end of our "shift", the Warehouse Manager, Jennifer, joined us for a picture. 
