LINCOLN -- Kiwanis members are looking ahead and collecting "happy dollars" for the back to school bonanza set for late summer before the 2014-15 school year begins.
Happy dollars is a donation made at each meeting by members, which is usually $1, or more if a member wishes to donate more. The club donates money for various causes through the year and collects money for Christmas baskets each year.
Lynn Thomas, president of Lincoln Kiwanis Club, presented Neil Helm a check for $305 for GRACE Place at last week's meeting -- more happy dollars at work.
"This check will help GRACE Place feed 75 people," Thomas said.
GRACE Place is a non-profit organization that helps with food and clothing assistance. It is supported by 11 churches in the Lincoln area.
Members had a short discussion on starting a Boys and Girls Club in Lincoln.
John Harvey, former club president, said the issue had been discussed before.
"We talked about this a few times and got a soccer club," Harvey said. "We may not have a boys and girls club yet but we should do something."
Thomas said several club members would be meeting that afternoon with a representative from a Dallas, Texas, Boys and Girls Club to get more information on how to start one. "We should get something positive from this meeting," he said.
"I feel positive about a boys and girls club," said Kiwanis member Gary Lunsford. "Let's open it up."
Stephanie Mitchell, a 4-7 grade school resource teacher and volleyball coach addressed the club about the sport.
"Our goal is to build a volleyball program the next couple of years," Mitchell said, adding she coaches three teams, 7-9 grades.
Mitchell brought four team members with her: Libby Calico, Jessica Goldman, Brittany Blevins and Tori Hammons. The teams will play from August through October.
Al Videtto, information technical director for the city and Kiwanis member, said the new Lincoln Public Library set a record that morning with 95 people attending Storytime with 82 of those being children from 2-5 years-old.
Rhonda Hulse, city water manager and secretary/treasurer of Kiwanis, said membership in the library had doubled since it opened last month.
Videtto said anyone with a Lincoln library card could now use Ancestry.com at no charge.
The next Kiwanis meeting is today, Wednesday, at noon at the Lincoln Community Center on the downtown square. A further discussion on a Boys and Girls Club is on the agenda.
Community on 04/16/2014