As we are getting snippets of spring weather, our club is getting excited about getting outside and helping kids, elders and our community. Older Kiwanians members (is that me?) do a lot of work in our club and around town to make Kingston a great place to live.

Our Mustang this year is really hot. It is a 1965 coupe, red with black racing stripes, a 289 cubic inch V8 engine, four-speed transmission, and wheels and tires donated by Les Schwab. You don’t want to miss out on this one, because we only have 3,500 tickets. Sales are good, and local tribal leaders generously approved the purchase of 1,000 tickets to give out in promotions. Sales support of scholarships for our high school seniors and the Boys and Girls Club.

We have scheduled a food drive June 11 at both Albertsons and the IGA in Kingston. Many of our children who receive free breakfasts and lunches during the school year will not get this service during  the months, and many may actually go hungry. It’s hard to believe that we have hunger in Kingston, but it’s true. I hope we all turn out to support this food drive to help feed our kids over the summer. Collections go to ShareNet and The Kingston Food Bank.

The annual fresh strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry sale, is on track. Strawberries will be picked July 10, raspberries July 17, and blueberries on July 31. Yum! The good Lord and nature may change our schedule, but it all looks good now. The berries are delivered the same day and picked up at Columbia Bank in Kingston from 1-5 p.m. This is another Kiwanis effort that supports our kids and community.

One of our members, Judy “Toy Lady” Osborne, has her Christmas toy drive going strong. You don’t have to be a member of Kiwanis to donate. Just pop on down to the Oak Table Café on Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. (that’s when we meet) and bring a new toy or children’s book. You will be a hero, and if you would like to stay for our meeting, we will buy you breakfast.

We had a great inter-club meeting with the Bainbridge Island Kiwanis this month, and picked up some good ideas for how to improve our club.

For more information contact president Dick Osborne at (360) 297-4693, or Bob Lee, 360-297-4462.

Correction: This column was misattributed in print.