DECEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Volunteer opportunities are something that we take very seriously. Our team is working each and every day to make a positive impact in our community.

Join us to learn more about our commitment to this cause.

Kiwanis Meetings are EVERY TUESDAY

TIME: 7PM

PLACE: Los Toros Restaurant, 21743 Devonshire St., Chatsworth 91311

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER EVENTS

THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION

FOR PENNY LANE

One of the projects that the Chatsworth Kiwanis undertakes each year is to collaborate with three other nonprofit organizations (About My Father's Business, Temple OrAmi and Tena Centeno) to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner as well as volunteers to serve it.

One Penny Lane program provides housing for foster youth who have chosen to stay in foster care past their 18th birthday. The young people in this program are still under the jurisdiction, supervision, and responsibility of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and/or the Department of Probation. These young people have grown out of the foster care system and this is transitional housing for them through college and/or transition to a career job.

On November 17th, Chatsworth Kiwanis served the traditional dinner .everyone enjoyed dinner, dessert, taking pictures in the Photo Booth and a DJ for entertainment and dancing.

The Kiwanis volunteers getting ready to serve the Thanksgiving dinner

Enjoying the photo booth and the DJ entertainment after dinner

CHATSWORTH KIWANIS PROVIDED 75 FAMILIES TURKEY DINNER

Through member donations, Chatsworth Kiwanis was able to provide complete Thanksgiving dinners for 75 families. These meals were delivered by our great member volunteers.

The meals included whole ingredients are turkey, dressing, rolls, green beans, yams, gravy, mashed potatoes and of course pies are in the packages.

The families were chosen through our local schools, Chatsworth Veterans Center and LAPD PALS. Everyone should enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

CHATSWORTH HOLIDAY PARADE

What a fun traditional event and parade!

On December 11th, Kiwanis Club of Chatsworth held the 38th Annual Chatsworth Parade and Festival. The theme was “Hometown Holidays”. The morning was rainy, but the sun (as always) came out just before the parade started and brought us sunshine and dry weather!

The event kicked off with a flyover by “Condor Squadron” from Van Nuys followed by high school bands, dance groups, floats, community organizations, equestrians and many more community members just wanting to be in the parade.

The festival that was located on Canoga and Devonshire provided entertainment with a live band, bouncers for the kids, vendor booths selling holiday crafts and gifts, food trucks, a fun beer garden for holiday libations (and to give some warmth), and of course Santa Claus to bring cheer and candy canes to all who visited him.

The joy on parade goers faces has kept the club inspired to continue this great holiday tradition since 1997. Chatsworth Kiwanis looks forward to our next Parade and Festival this year on December

10th, 2023.

VALLEY VILLAGE LURLINE HOUSE

Valley Village Lurline House is a Medicaid Certified 6 Bed Intermediate Care Facility located in Chatsworth, with service to the surrounding community. Valley Village Lurline House is certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Intermediate Care Facility program servers over 100,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities and other related conditions.

Kiwanis supports this house by celebrating residents birthday and recognizing special events in their lives.

On December 22nd Kathie Donner and Maryann Stein drove by Lurline house and spread some holiday cheer. They brought snowmen with Starbucks gift cards attached and Holiday cookies. The women were so excited to see us and to receive their cards. They go on a weekly trip to Starbucks.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE WEST VALLEY

Our club was happy to sponsor and be a part of the BGCWV 30th Anniversary Celebration.

The “Denim and Diamonds” extravaganza helped BGCWV provide the community with a safe place for our youth to play, grow and learn while they are empowered to excel in school, so they get to be who they are and live healthy and productive lives and make a difference in the world.

DONATIONS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Our Chatsworth Kiwanis club provides a lot of support to other neighborhood organizations throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season.

Here is a list of what we did over the last two months:

$1,500 - Chatsworth High School Band received this donation as musical sweepstakes winners of the Holiday Parade
$1,000 - Boys & Girls Club of West Valley received the donation to help them celebrate the 30th Anniversary
$1,300 - Club funds were used for Thanksgiving Baskets, along with the members donations (totaling nearly $4000) to provide full meals to 75 families in our area.
$700 - Was donated to other non-profits in the area to help them with their holiday celebrations efforts
$650 - Our sponsored youth at Chatsworth Park Urban Planning School or K-Kids received this donation to purchase their club shirts.
$860 - Was given to other youth organizations for uniforms and their school leadership programs.
$100 - Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission - Thanksgiving meals for homeless.
$300 - Wreaths across America - Wreaths for Veterans at Cemetery.

CHATSWORTH KIWANIS HOLIDAY PARTY

The annual Holiday Party held at Casa Montano in Chatsworth was held on on regular meeting night, Tuesday - December 20th this year. It is a potluck event with a variety of great selections.

The traditional "Pirate" gift exchange is always the highlight with the stealing of great gifts among the group and creating lots of fun and laughter. I think the Jack Daniels was the big steal this year... and gift cards, of course.

Thank you to Nick and Lucia for opening their home for this fun celebration of the holiday season.

Charles and wife Mercy, Kim and husband Tim enjoying the party festivities

Steffi, Maryann, Bree and Kim getting into the holiday spirit

KIWANIS KEY CLUB

DISTRICT 16 KEY CLUB FALL RALLY HELD AT SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Thousands of Key Clubbers from all over Southern California gather each year to meet new people, support the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Program, show their Key Club Spirt, and have some fun!