Kathy Chouteau
The Kiwanis Club of Richmond has gotten a jumpstart on holiday season giving by fulfilling the wish lists of the Kiwanis Family House in Sacramento and the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP). Both nonprofits serve people in need in different capacities.
Volunteers from the club stopped by the Kiwanis Family House in Sacramento last weekend to deliver much-needed supplies, including kids’ diapers, masks, hand sanitizer, laundry detergent, disinfecting wipes and other personal essentials.
The location provides a place for families from around the world to stay for free while their child or family member is undergoing treatment at UC Davis Medical Center or Shriners Hospital, said Jim Becker, a board member of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond.
The club’s early holiday season elves also stopped by GRIP’s homeless shelter and soup kitchen this week to donate 250 pairs of new socks—exactly what the organization indicated was its greatest need for local boys and men at this time.
Becker said the club worked with nonprofit leaders “to identify their needs and help provide something that will really benefit the organizations.”
The club said it also supports the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL), Saffron, Special Olympics and Youth Service Bureau and other organizations that focus on children and families. It’s always on the lookout for volunteers and new members; the club meets Thursdays at noon on Zoom and hopes to return to in-person meetings in the near future.
Community members are welcome to attend the club’s Annual Public Safety Awards Dinner Fri., March 11 at RPAL in Richmond. The event honors the Firefighter of the Year and Police Officer of the Year, in addition to other awards.
Learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Richmond, its charitable work and events here.
