Dozens benefit
from club’s annual generosity
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Dozens of area children and their families had a brighter Christmas, thanks to the efforts of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club.
CLUB MAKES CHRISTMAS MERRY — The Presque Isle Kiwanis Club gave toys and food to hundreds in need again this year. Pictured from left are: John Graves, co-chair; Sue Watson; Alan Harding; Fay York; AJ Cloukey; Jeff Ashby; and Heather Ouellette.
KIWANIANS AND VOLUNTEERS delivered food baskets to those in need in Presque Isle the weekend before Christmas. Pictured at the Rec Center — which served as distribution central — were, from left: Kirk Carroll, Jeff Ashby, Heather, Kris Mehta, Chris Carroll, Carolyn Kimball, Richard Kimball, Lisa Prescott, Donna Lisnik, Nancy Chandler, Co-Chair Sherri Wilcox, Keith Madore, Sue Watson, Co-Chair John Graves, Emma Bartlett, Dave Bartlett, Nick Bartlett, Fay York, Jim Chandler and Alan Harding.
“The Presque Isle Kiwanis Club gave toys to over 260 children this year, providing the gifts and wrapping paper to parents at the Rec Center’s Riverside building in mid-December,” said Sue Watson, club secretary.
A wide selection of toys were collected this year, with parents/guardians of children ages 0-18 in need this holiday season being able to choose something special to put under the tree.
The club’s generosity continued the weekend of Dec. 22.
“On Saturday the club had over 140 families that we delivered a Christmas dinner to. We started off with 5-pound bags of potatoes from Danny Stewart’s farm, then added a turkey or grocery store voucher, peas, corn, cranberry sauce, fruit cocktail, butter, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, bread and candy. This year we also gave them pasta and pasta sauce,” said Watson.
Watson said it’s an annual event, with lots of volunteers sharing their time to make the holidays bearable for those in need.
“It is a fun-filled project. We even have community members help us out that are not Kiwanians,” she said.
At the helm are two longtime volunteers who’ve dedicated many years to ensuring the project’s success.
“John Graves and Sherri Wilcox have been chairing this project for many years and do a wonderful job,” Watson said.
