Big Brothers Big Sisters, Guiding Light and Equestrian Therapy receive monetary donations from the Kiwanis Club on Tuesday afternoon for their work with helping youth.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — As the season of giving is soon approaching, one organization decided to give to three non-profit agencies so they can continue to give. The Kiwanis Club met Tuesday afternoon to award local organizations for giving back to youth in the community. Guiding Light, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Equestrian Therapy were the recipients.
“We have three fundraisers,” Charity Fund Chairperson Bev Beerly said. “Years ago, I used to just write checks and put them in the mail — we decided we want the organizations to come in and share. At Kiwanis, we are all about kids.”
Kiwanis said the organization hosts barbecues and sells tickets at the fair to raise money for donations.
“A lot of the money also goes to our service leadership clubs in the city schools,” Beerly said. “During the school year, we meet with kids in every city school, Marimor and out at the branch. We meet with them the first of the week and teach them anti-bullying, how to be good citizens and help their neighbor.”
BBBS gives back by mentoring youth.
“We cannot do our programs in the community without fundraisers, grants and donations,” BBBS Executive Assistant Fran Biaglow said. “Currently, we have served 322 youths in the community from January until now. We offer community-based programs. The big can go out into the community and take their little to a movie or go to a park.”
Biaglow also said the school-based program allows the big to meet the little in the school for mentoring. Guiding Light helps young mothers in crisis transition to independent living.
“The last three or four years there was a struggle with parents keeping their kids and losing custody because of the choices they made,” Guiding Light Executive Director Julianne Burk said. “Our goal is to reunite them or give them supervised visitations because children suffer without that.”
Burk also said the donations are vital because the organization does not receive direct grant funding.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
