Celebrating with the Kiwanis Club of Charles Town for their 100th Anniversary.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing

The Salvation Army provides temporary shelter for displaced individuals and families. Our way of supporting them in their efforts is to stand in at the donation kettles each year ringing the bells. As many volunteer works go, that seems simple enough but there is a lot of coordination and personal effort that goes into providing coverage for the kettles. It’s usually cold weather and there is little opportunity to sit when this major fundraising event comes around but you will always get an enthusiastic “Thank you” and “Merry Christmas” as you pass our members at collection locations.

Red Cross Blood Drives

Several times each year our Kiwanis members team up with the American Red Cross to not only provide support staff for blood collection but to also donate their own blood for this vital effort. President Susan Corrigan with Tim Anderson, the coordinator for our Blood Drives.

Kids Christmas Party

A favorite event of the year is our Children’s Christmas Party. Each year just before Christmas our club puts together a shopping event purchasing gifts for children from every elementary school in our surrounding region. The children are treated to a wonderful lunch meal, singing, decorations, and wrapped gifts of their own all presided over by Santa Claus himself. 

Highway Cleanup

Twice yearly we go out to our VDOT Adopt-A-Highway road segment and clean up. As with most Kiwanis work events this one is made as fun as possible through good natured fun and coordination. We cover a two mile portion of road and use safety gear, vehicle support, and rubber gloves to quietly serve our community. 

Pancake Day

Our major fundraising event comes up in the Spring and Fall of each year. We set up in the War Memorial Building in Jim Barnett Park to cook fresh pancakes and sausage along with coffee, juice, milk, and all you need to sit and enjoy them. It’s a time of good food, fun, and meeting with friends and neighbors. The money raised at these two events goes back out to the community in the form of grants to service organizations, scholarships, support for kids in need.

For each Pancake Day we partner with one membership-selected local organization designated as the Major Beneficiary. That group commits to providing help with all the preparation and serving and then is rewarded with a percentage of the net proceeds when it’s all over. For the 2025 Fall event we were honored to work with Froggy’s Closet and the I’m Just Me Movement for our Spring 2026 event.

Rescue Mission

The Rescue Mission supports people with their immediate needs like food and housing, but also with longer-term goals like stability, employment, and personal transformation. Once a month, members prepare and serve dinner, grateful to come together and support our community at the Rescue Mission.

K Clubs

K Clubs are a group of service leadership programs for different age levels, all focused on developing leadership and serving communities. In Elementary Schools you will find K-Kids, Middle Schools support service projects with the Builders Clubs, and High Schools promote leadership through volunteer service with their Key Clubs.

Scholarships

Annually, outstanding Key Club members from Handley High School, James Wood High School, and Millbrook High School are chosen to receive awards and scholarships for their service to the community.