In a few days this year's convention will be but a memory. It starts up Friday and ends on Saturday of this week. It is a time for Kiwanians to enjoy some fellowship, leadership training, district business and many fun activities.
Capital City Kiwanis is in charge of the registration packets this year. We have also prepared a Nebraska basket of goodies to donate to the NE-IA District Foundation raffle. And we are bringing cases of Mac & Cheese to participate in the Trivia Contest and the service activity on Friday night. Sounds like a lot of fun!
MAHONEY INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND
The Capital City Kiwanis Club is one of several clubs in Lincoln who donated to the new inclusive playground at Mahoney Park in northeast Lincoln. CCK gave $3000 to the project. Donations also came from other local sources plus federal and state funding for this park renovation to become a reality.
The newly renovated playground was officially opened on July 1st with a ribbon cutting, The park has about six different play zones. The Kiwanis funding was applied to the Nature Zone and there will be a sign hung to recognize our support. In the Nature Zone visitors will find a calming space to enjoy native plants, some enhanced sensory experiences, and a peaceful spot to just enjoy nature.
FOSTER CARE CLOSET SERVICE EVENT
CCK continued its involvement with the Foster Care Closet [FCC] with a service event on Monday, July 28. Kathy Prochaska-Cue, Marilyn Napier, Marilyn Scheinost, Sandy Scheinost, Mindy Vyhnalek and Cheryl Ross spent two hours sorting, labeling and repackaging girls' bras. While working to fill boxes with bras needed by the FCC the group had spirited discussions about Husker volleyball, football, and summer activities. At the end of our "shift" Jennifer Olson, our FCC point of contact, talked with us about the FCC transitioning to mobile closets that travel to Scottsbluff, Grand Island, Norfolk, Sidney, North Platte, Kearney and the Winnebago Reservation that allows them to overcome transportation barriers that many families face; reach more youth directly in their communities; and maximize donor dollars by streamlining operations. If you are interested in seeing how the mobile closet operates, there will be a mobile closet pop-up in Lincoln on Saturday, August 2 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Nebraska Knockerball LLC, 2350 Judson Street, #1. The Foster Care Closet is more than just shelves of stuff. It is a reflection of love in action, supported by volunteers, donations and people who care. CCK's next service event will be Monday, August 25.
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WONDERFUL PROGRAMS!
The CCK Program committee has been knocking it out of the park this summer! We have had some great speakers and we have learned about some new (at least to us) and some old (but very exciting) service organizations.
TEEN SERVE - a group of home-schooled kids serving others just for fun and the chance to help those in need of an extra hand. Their parents are helping them organize and get to the job sites. No fees. No donations. Just a pure desire to serve.
BIG GUMDROP OUTDOORS - a fairly new grassroots group started by a couple of Lincoln High and UNL Ag college graduates who felt the need to bring the outdoors to inter city kids. They started small but are growing rapidly and they have a great mission.
LINCOLN BIKE KITCHEN - this is not a "new" organization, but an old one that is still growing so fast they are needing more space for all the bikes and helpers they need to serve the need. To help keep them on track, the group has a new CEO and a couple other people on staff.
