Members of our club installed two balance beams, a small climbing wall, and a floating step walkway in Coleman. Thanks to Earl, Joe, Mike, Brad, Kevin, Dave and Ray for using your talents to make a child’s day more fun!

Dee Howe, Executive Director of Midland County 4H-MSU Extension, explains how 4H is aimed at targeting life skills and youth leadership. She shared the Targeting Life Skills model and walked us through examples of how various projects in the 4H programs develop these skills.

The Club is proud to support 4H each year at the Midland County Fair. We will be ready to bid at the small animal auction on Wednesday, August 13. So grab some popcorn from our booth, and join us in supporting our county’s youth.

Members of our club have long been involved with Cleveland Manor, an independent living facility for older adults (62+) and people with disabilities who have limited incomes. Executive Director, Judy Laufer, gave us an update this summer and thanked the Club Foundation for donating money for a gazebo repair project.

Kevin welcomed new member, Jamie, to our club in May. She is eager to serve the community and meet new people.

The Kiwanis Club of Midland has a longstanding working relationship with the West Midland Family Center preschool program.

As the school year came to an end, we helped serve a meal to the kids and their families, which gave the teachers an opportunity to mingle with the guests.

Club President Kevin Shaughnessy received special recognition by the 3-year-old class, who presented him with an art project to show their appreciation. Kevin goes into the classrooms weekly and does science lessons with the kids. The preschoolers love Mr. Kevin and his fun experiments. Move over, Bill Nye, Kevin is our Science Guy!

We had a fun time planting petunias along Eastman Road during the annual Midland Blooms Saturday.

Ukraine immigrants shared their journey:  The owners of Chef Sergey’s Bakery – (from left) Sergey and Kristina Pokanevych,Natalia Iakovleva and Maga Miakiiev

Through Indira & Ed Oskvarek of Global Compassion, a local organization that the Midland Kiwanis Foundation has supported various international projects with, told the story of Global Compassion’s effort to host a “Valentines for Ukraine” fundraiser dinner for the victims of the war in Ukraine.  

While struggling to prepare authentic Ukrainian food for the dinner, Indira learned that a Ukrainian chef named Sergey Pokanevych had recently moved to Midland after his restaurant was destroyed in Ukraine.

New Member – Mary Draves and President Kevin Shaugnessy

Earl Soules welcomes Joe Lindsly as the newest member of the Kiwanis club. Joe is presented with a hat and told it will come in handy during popcorn sales at the Midland County Fair when we host a booth selling popcorn and soft drinks.

https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/kindergarten-teachers-tell-kiwanis-club-smek-20279160.php

Mike Rush, Midland Kiwanis member and President of Junior Achievement (JA) of North Central Michigan and Melissa Gleason, Vice President of Education (not pictured) showed the Club the world of JA as a “student in the classroom” at the March 24 Midland Kiwanis Club meeting.