Kiwanis Grand Rapids

09/01/2026

Brian Elve from Guiding Light Works talked about the organization serving men struggling with addiction since 1929. A facility for women opened in 2024. They take no federal funding and do not duplicate the services offered by other organizations in the city. This long-term rehab provides a structured environment for recovery.

08/28/2026

Another successful night serving food at the North End Community Ministry Supper House. The Kiwanians and their family members all pitched in to help, this is a very worthy place to spend our time. Everyone was so grateful to see us and we made a difference in the community.

08/27/2026

At the Kiwanis meeting we provided Bruce Oosterhouse with a Hixson Fellowship. The club donated $1,000 to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund in his honor. Bruce was a high school sports coach for many years and served with Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 1964. These are just a couple of the ways Bruce goes above and beyond to serve the children of West Michigan. Bruce is now one of 27 members dating back to 1994 to receive this honor. To date, Kiwanis has a total of 45,250 Hixson fellowships worldwide.

08/25/2026

At the Kiwanis meeting we listened to Phil Sweeney and Rick Stubblefield from We Do Care. We gave them our annual $3,000 check to support the work the foundation does. It was founded by Kiwanians Bob Olson and Frank Archer in 1986. Their goal is to make children with cancer smile.

08/25/2026

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"Do what you can, with what you have, where..." - Theodore Roosevelt quotes from BrainyQuote.com

08/21/2026

The Kiwanis Club of Grand Rapids had a special evening event to celebrate two of our members. The evening started enjoying live music on the deck at Shots on the River followed by dinner.

This first honoree was Craig Avery who has a long history with the Kiwanis organization dating back to his high school days as a Key Clubber. We celebrated his 50 years as member of Kiwanis by presenting him with the Legion of Honor award.

Next we provided Dan Williams with a Hixson Fellowship. The club donated $1,000 to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund in his honor. Dan served as president of the club three times. He, along with our treasurer Sarah Pastoor, volunteered to lead the fundraising efforts for Kids' Food Basket with several very successful golf outings. These are just a couple of the ways Dan goes above and beyond to serve the children of West Michigan. Dan is now one of 27 members dating back to 1994 to receive this honor. To date, Kiwanis has a total of 45,250 Hixson fellowships worldwide.

08/12/2026

The Kiwanis Club of Grand Rapids had so much fun at the Mill Creek Days in Comstock Park. We had a blast playing games with the kids. All the kids who stopped by received a Terrific Kids sticker and a cookie.

We also talked to the adults about how important Kiwanis is for kids in the community.

Kids Need Kiwanis and Kiwanis Needs You

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083564850866

08/05/2026

The Kiwanis Club of Grand Rapids will have a tent near the playground at the Mill Creek Days in Comstock Park on Saturday August 8. We will have games for the kids and free cookies from 12:30-5:30.

Stop by and learn how Kiwanis help kids in the community.

Kids Need Kiwanis and Kiwanis Needs You

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083564850866.

The fifth annual (return of) Mill Creek Days in Comstock Park is August 7-8, 2026. The event is coordinated by the Comstock Park DDA, Comstock Park Public Schools, local businesses, restaurants and volunteers.

08/04/2026

Here is our July newsletter featuring our Kiwanis adventures and a Kiwanis membership pin appearing in a TV show.

07/28/2026

Our Kiwanis member John LaPorte gave a presentation on one of his hobbies. He uses epoxy resin in woodcraft to create beautiful pieces of art. He showed pictures of the process from start to finish.