Newton Falls Kiwanis Club shares recent news, activities

Staff report

NEWTON FALLS

Kiwanis Club of Newton Falls elected officers for the October 2015 to September 2016 fiscal year. They are Bob Wujcik, president; Alma Griffith, vice president; Elizabeth Yura, secretary; Kathy Wujcik, treasurer; and Charlie Strum, sergeant-at-arms. The outgoing secretary/treasurer, Tom Palmer, was recognized for his years of service. Fred Stanley was noted for his 60-year membership with Kiwanis.

Four Newton Falls members attended the Ohio district convention in Beachwood, Ohio, where they participated in service/leadership, grant writing and youth protection workshops and voted on district officer positions. The club donated 35 pairs of shoes to the Shoes for H.O.P.E. program. During the convention, 43,600 pairs of shoes were collected, and a final total of 70,900 pairs will be donated to developing nations.

Other member outreach included Barry Silliphant and Linda Hrenko attending the Kiwanis 100th anniversary events in Detroit and Cleveland. Bob Wujcik, Kellner and Yura worked with other Kiwanis members at Akron Food Pantry. President Wujcik worked with Jodee Ward of Berea to develop a Kiwanis presence in Columbiana and Leetonia, and club members visited the Leetonia library.

The club has chosen to support and connect with other Kiwanis clubs and community organizations, and has attended Western Reserve (Hiram) Kiwanis Club spaghetti dinners, Newton Falls AMVETS breakfasts and Western Mahoning County Kiwanis (Austintown) pancake breakfasts.

Kathy Wujcik coordinates the efforts of four club members that shop, sort foods, clean and deliver bags for a food-in-backpacks weekend program for kindergarten-to-sixth-grade students.

Assistance with the program is offered by the Newton Falls High School National Honor Society and student council, superintendent Paul Woodard, secretaries, school nurses and middle school cafeteria staff.

The Newton Falls Kiwanis gather for a meal at 6:30 p.m. and meeting at 7 each Tuesday at the Covered Bridge Inn Restaurant, 22 W. Broad St.

They also host bingo games the last Tuesday of each month at Allan-Dell Assisted Living from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Laurie Ann Nursing Home from 6:45 to 7:40, both at 2200 Milton Blvd.