Improving the lives of children in our community is the focus of several community service projects on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 16.
Low-contact and no-contact community service projects have been developed by the Kiwanis Club of the Haddons for participation by local residents. Several drop-off boxes will be available at different locations in Camden County to accept donations. Project participants are asked to record their service at the club Facebook site, @HaddonsKiwanis
Food insecurity: Please donate non-perishable foods. Donations will be distributed directly to local pantries in Audubon, Bellmawr, Barrington, Haddonfield, Collingswood and Cherry Hill.
Pajamas: Please donate new pajamas, any size. Donations will be distributed by the NJ Chapter Pajama Program to agencies including Center for Family Services, Camden Center for Independent Living, CASA of Camden County, Greater Collingswood Children’s enter, Ronald McDonald House and Cooper University Hospital Child Life Program.
Pre-school literacy: Create alphabet flash card decks, about 5×7 inch cards, as part of the Love Letters for Literacy Project. Visit www.lovelettersliteracy.org for instructions. All letters must be in upper case block font. Each set of cards will be distributed by Prevent Child Abuse NJ.
Record a book: Film yourself reading aloud your favorite children’s book, which will be uploaded to the Kiwanis club YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/channel/UCzsTJgywlWsIDix7hz54FCw. Voorhees Pediatric Center and Weissman Rehab Center in Marlton are looking forward to viewing the recordings. Please email the Kiwanis club at HaddonsKiwanis@gmail.com for instructions.
Homeward Bound Animal Shelter: Donate gently used pillowcases and towels for use in the shelter, along with donations of cat and dog food and treats. Create a ‘rice sock’ to keep the animals warm in their cage: https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/pet-health/how-to-make-a-rice-sock-for-heat-or-cold-support-for-cats/ Create a dog toy out of two gently used t-shirts: https://post.bark.co/products/how-to-make-a-t-shirt-dog-toy/
Remember our elders: Create or write ‘thinking of you’ greeting cards or Valentine’s Day cards to the residents of the United Methodist Communities at Collingswood who face seasonal restrictions for outside visitors due to COVID safety protocols; 460 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ, 08108, attention Community Life.
Greeting card displays: Wrap a Pringles can or other tall can or oatmeal container with yarn to create a colorful compact display for greeting cards. https://craftbits.com/project/pringle-tin-christmas-card-holder/ These will be delivered to the residents of the United Methodist Communities at Collingwood.
Collection points for donations will be at Barrington Municipal Building, 229 Trenton Ave, Barrington, NJ; Bellmawr Municipal Building, 21 E Browning Rd, Bellmawr, NJ; Haddonfield Public Library, 60 North Haddon Avenue (Library Point), Haddonfield; and 400 Kingston Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ.
Additional collection points will be at Law Office of John D. Wilson, 701 Grant Ave, Suite A, Collingswood, NJ, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Thriven Design, 756 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood. Check the Kiwanis Facebook site for additional drop-off locations.
Remember that every day is a new opportunity to provide an act of kindness to another person. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
The club meets every Friday in person at Mulligan’s Bar and Grill, 1208 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, or virtually, to plan and carry out service projects, from 12:15 p.m. until 1:30 p.m., and invites all area adults to join. For service project and club information please contact club secretary Milton Smith, 856-559-2009, HaddonsKiwanis@gmail.com, or www.Facebook.com/HaddonsKiwanis.
