Rosewood Miracle Workers Aktion Club was in the giving spirit during the Christmas season. Small groups of club members took turns delivering coloring books, crayons and blankets to Great Bend organizations that serve community children.
Club members collected the items from the community during a three-month drive in order to deliver the gifts to the four area agencies.
Coloring books and crayons were donated to St. Francis Community Services and to Central Kansas Dream Center. Blankets were donated to Barton County Health Department and to Family Crisis Center.
“We felt like both drives were successful,” said Rosewood Aktion Club sponsor Frankie Pelster. “The community was responsive to our effort and our Aktion Club members took pride in helping four agencies that provide services to children. Our club members enjoyed donating the gifts they had collected.”
Family Crisis Center serves 10 counties in central and south central Kansas and the Center’s work involves helping many children who are facing traumatic experiences.
“If they go to shelter, they just pick up and leave everything behind,” said Rachel Angel, executive director. “The blankets definitely help to provide a child warmth and comfort during an unsettling time.”
Barton County Health Department sees approximately 1,000 people a month, with half of them being children, so the blankets represent a whole lot of comfort and warmth for the youngsters.
Coloring books and crayons were a welcomed gift to St. Francis, which serves Barton County children and their families. Its staff are currently serving nearly 100 area children in or seeking foster care.
“We took the coloring books and crayons to our children’s Christmas party and all the children and their families got to color together,” said Connie Cale, office coordinator for St. Francis – Great Bend. “We were also able to give some to the children as they left the party and they appreciated receiving them.”
Central Kansas Dream Center gave its donated coloring books to children of families that it serves at Hungry Heart Soup Kitchen and to families living in shelter transition, or going through their nine-month program, said the center’s director Kimberly Becker.
Rosewood Aktion Club is an affiliate of the national Kiwanis organization that promotes service in action for people with developmental disabilities. The area club allows Rosewood clients to be actively involved in the community and to positively impact the lives of others.