June 22 – Buy a rock and pave the way for children to play. For a modest contribution, individuals, families, businesses and organizations can leave their mark on our parks by purchasing commemorative stones with their names, dedications or important messages engraved on these custom stones. Whether a heartfelt tribute to a loved one, a commemoration of cherished memories or a show of corporate solidarity, each stone serves as a testament to the collective investment in the well-being of future generations. Our community can thank the City of Waynesville, which is the primary funder of Waynesville Parks and Recreation, said Eva Hansen, chair of the Waynesville Parks & Rec Advisory Commission and Kiwanis member. Although more than 70% of this park system’s users live outside the city limits, Haywood County has not provided financial assistance since 2008. Small 4″ x 8″ bricks, accommodating up to three lines of text, are available for a $55 donation, while larger 8″ x 8″ bricks, which hold up to five lines of text, can be purchased for $100. For For those who wish to showcase their corporate identity, the option to incorporate a corporate logo onto the stone surface is available for an additional $10 per logo. Those interested in purchasing a brick can visit the fundraising page at https://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/kwaync to select the desired brick size, customize their inscription and make their donation securely online.
Would you like to attend the open house? The Kiwanis Club of Waynesville invites all interested to attend their upcoming Open House event on Tuesday, June 25 from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. This meeting provides an opportunity to gain insight into the club’s various projects and its dedicated service to improving the lives of children within the community. Whether it’s the Kiwanis Playground in Waynesville or the patriotic flags on Main Street, Kiwanis projects benefit many in the city.
In an effort to increase recreational opportunities and enrich the lives of youth and adults in the community, the Kiwanis Club of Waynesville has joined forces with Waynesville Parks & Recreation to lead a brick path fundraising campaign.
People will have the opportunity to make their mark on the Waynesville park by purchasing an inscribed stone for a new trail and helping the club revitalize parks and recreational equipment.
“We are grateful for our long and successful partnership with Waynesville Parks and their immediate willingness to work together again,” said Kiwanis President Linda Chambers.
The brick path will pass the current gravel path on the greenway that bridges the All-Abilities Playground and the Kiwanis Playground and then continue along the greenway.
The group plans to use the leftover money from the bricks to replace the 22-year-old wooden tower structure at the Kiwanis Playground, a significant upgrade that promises fewer splinters and an overall better play experience for children and families visiting the area.
“This fundraiser is just one of many strategies our park volunteers and staff are exploring,” said Luke Kinsland, director of Waynesville Parks & Rec. “Budgets are very tight and significant amounts of money are needed to maintain our park system. We really want to upgrade, improve and expand.”
This project follows successful efforts that enabled the creation of the All-Abilities Playground and an upgrade with new equipment for the Kiwanis Playground. These playgrounds are located next to each other in the recreation park at 128 W Marshall Street in Waynesville.
The club has also overseen the Canton All-Abilities Playground, which is nearing completion.
Part of a larger mission
However, the significance of these projects extends far beyond just the installation of new equipment. It represents the club’s overall mission to create a vibrant and inclusive environment where children and adults of all abilities can thrive and forge lasting memories.
“’One child and one community at a time’ is part of our motto,” Chambers said. “We did the playgrounds in particular, but we also do all kinds of projects in the community for the betterment of children.”
The Kiwanis Club of Waynesville has been in existence for 73 years, improving the lives of the community’s youth through grants, scholarships and annual events such as the annual Kiwanis Spelling Bee. In recent years, the club has provided more than $2 million to support children.
“If someone asks, ‘Why are you doing this or what is it all about?’ I always told people, ‘I was a kid that we’re helping now,'” Chambers said. “We came from a very poor background. My mother raised six children of her own a long time ago. Even though we didn’t have much, we were still taught to give back.”
The club partners with other organizations within the community, such as the Downtown Waynesville Commission for the Waynesville Christmas parade and Stars & Stripes Patriotic Kids Parade, and the Waynesville Parks and Rec center for the annual Spring Fling event, when the rec center opens its doors opens for a day of fun, free.
“We volunteer on many community projects. Folkmoot calls on us to help them, and the same goes for Parks and Rec. It’s a close-knit community and we all pull together,” said Kiwanis board member Eva Hansen. “We are small, but extremely powerful.”
The group gives back through scholarships and the Scott Fund Grants, which provide funds for educational and recreational use to benefit Haywood County children 13 and under, with grants typically between $10,000 and $20,000.
On Tuesday, they will announce the recipients of the Lauranne Humphreys Scholarship, which will be awarded to four female high school students pursuing higher education in STEM fields. The scholarship was established to honor the legacy of former Kiwanis member Lauranne Humphreys, who passed away in 2018.
Hansen said the scholarship luncheon is always a big “Kiwanis Moment,” a term used by the group to describe moments that get the heart pumping.
“To see the benefits of our fundraising efforts make a difference for those young people and for their future,” Hansen said.
Flags and dictionaries
Chambers said one of her favorite Kiwanis moments is the raising of the American flags, when 135 of them pass through the city for patriotic holidays.
For fellow board member Ann Kline, the dictionaries the club makes available to third-graders in the community’s schools are one of her favorite moments.
“We go to the actual schools and talk to the kids in person, and I like that,” Kline said.
The club’s members consist of retired teachers, military personnel and others who want to make a change in their community.
Board member Marilyn Friedkin’s husband had been a member for 50 years, and although she joined after he died, she “always felt like she was a Kiwanian” from the time he joined the club, she said.
“A lot of people just realize that if we don’t take care of children today, tomorrow they’re going to be a problem that we have to take care of in a different way,” Chambers said.
Like Hansen, who was previously a Kiwanis member in Fayetteville, Chambers had been a Kiwanis member in Florida for more than 25 years before ending up in the Waynesville chapter.
“You walk in and it’s like your family has expanded into another area,” Chambers said.
New members welcome
A membership drive will be held on Tuesday, June 25, where tables will be set up with information about projects and fundraisers the club is doing.
“It’s a good way for people to get a bite of everything. Usually we can tell when something piques their interest and reach out to them and try to get them involved in a project that’s close to their heart,” Chambers said.
Patrick Ryan is the club’s president-elect and decided to join after attending an open house two years ago.
“It’s a great way to get involved in the community. It’s a great cause and we’re investing in our kids’ futures,” Ryan said.
Marti Bowman is the club’s newest member and has made the transition from volunteering to becoming a member.
“If you’re already volunteering for activities, it’s just a great way to meet people, and it’s a great way to give back. Especially for newcomers, so many new people are moving here,” Bowman said.
Chambers added that it’s a great option not only for newcomers, but also for new retirees.
“It keeps you young at heart,” Chambers said.
