Kiwanis Club donates $20,000 to Golisano Children’s Hospital
The Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club contributed another $20,000 to the Golisano Children’s Hospital at the end of March due to its success at its Beach Kiwanis Thrift Store.
On March 29, members of the Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club presented a check to Al Kinkle, chairman of Barbara’s Friends, Golisano Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund and Lee Health Foundation at Lexington Country Club.
Kiwanis Club President Roger Welton said they have been able to donate $20,000 for quite a few years now, due to the success of the Beach Kiwanis Thrift Store on the corner of Pine Ridge and Summerlin Roads, 11050 Summerlin Square Drive.
The thrift store opened in 1994 and moved to its current location in 2009. He said they had an opportunity to buy a spot that is really attractive with the help of a few Kiwanians who helped with financing.
“It has been well supported with donations,” Welton said. “We get a lot of furniture, household goods and clothes. We really give it a good sort, so the stuff that we put out is saleable. What we don’t put out, we have a person that comes by and collects each week. That’s been a key to our success, having really good stuff to offer.”
The store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday. Donations, which have to be in good shape, can be dropped off throughout the week, and bigger items can be picked up by a Kiwanian by calling (239) 454-8090.
On average about 25 volunteers, in addition to the Kiwanians, help run the store, which Welton said is because it’s a fun place to volunteer.
In addition to the thrift store, the Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club also provides assistance to the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School.
“We try to help them with the after school programs and bus trips,” he said.
There is also a K Kids Club for fourth and fifth grade students, which provides an opportunity for the youngsters to learn about Kiwanians, about their community as well as the importance of doing things for the community. Each year the club attracts approximately 20 kids.
The Kiwanis Club also helps out with recreation programs at Bay Oaks Recreation Center by sponsoring softball and soccer.
“We provide money for their uniforms and we provide extra money when they make the playoffs,” Welton said.
He said they also sponsor Every Child a Swimmer, at the swimming pool.
“We pay half the lessons. In a year’s time, I think there are about 100 kids that take swim lessons,” Welton said.
Finally, the Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club provides $2,000 scholarships for tuition, books, or room and board at a university, college or vocational technical school, for high school senior students in the 33931 Zip code.
“It’s been running around 15 scholarships, sometimes 20 scholarships,” Welton said of what they award every year.
The deadline this year is on, or before April 19. The application can be found at www.fortmyersbeachkiwanis.org.
He said they also provide four scholarships at South Fort Myers High School and Cypress Lake High School. The scholarship is available for the students who are a member of the Key Club.
“Our budget to the community runs over $100,000 each year,” Welton said.