CHAMBERSBURG – The Kiwanis Evening and Noontime Clubs just completed the fifth Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Bag Signature Project with distribution of Thanksgiving meals to 200 families in need of food security.
Their move demonstrates that the spirit of giving is in full swing as the clubs conducted their annual Thanksgiving Dinner Bag Project. The initiative provides the Thanksgiving meal basics and a grocery gift card to supplement the essentials.
For the last five years, the Kiwanis Clubs of Chambersburg have dedicated themselves to this Kiwanis project, to ensure that families in the local area can enjoy a traditional, festive Thanksgiving dinner. The Dinner Bag Project relies on the financial donations and tireless work of club volunteers to assemble and distribute the dinner bags filled with the fixings for a holiday meal. This year, the project received additional crucial support from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund.
“Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude and togetherness, and it is heartbreaking to think of a child going without a holiday meal,” said Deb Wheeling, secretary/treasurer of the Evening Club and project coordinator. “This is one of the ways we give back and try to make sure that no child goes hungry during this holiday.”
The dinner bags are carefully curated to contain the basics for a complete meal, including a gift card for produce, meat or dairy, along with canned vegetable, stuffing, potatoes, gravy mix, cranberry sauce, dessert mix and fresh Martin’s Potato Rolls! These items are sourced locally through Giant Foods, Weis Grocery Stores and Martin’s Potato Rolls. Berkstresser Realty Group graciously donated the reusable canvas bags.
Kiwanis Children’s Fund Provides Essential Boost
A significant part of the project’s success this year is the financial support received from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, a Foundation of Kiwanis International. The fund provides grants and financial assistance to help Kiwanis Clubs around the globe serve the children in their communities.
Sharon Foster, president of the Chambersburg Evening Club, highlighted the impact of the Foundation’s contribution. “The funding we receive from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund is essential. Given the rise in grocery prices and the decrease in federal nutritional supplemental programs, this funding enabled us to fill and distribute our goal of 200 meals,” Foster explained. “It represents the global Kiwanis mission making a tangible difference right here in Chambersburg.”
For information on how to join in this Kiwanis effort, please visit the Chambersburg Evening or Noontime Facebook Pages or the website: chamberburgkiwanis.org.
