PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend Kiwanis will host a volunteer work party followed by a community celebration of its 75th anniversary from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Kiwanis will work at the Blue Heron Middle School and the OCEAN School campuses at 3939 San Juan Ave.
Club members will join with Blue Heron students, East Jefferson Rivals girls’ softball team and parents to create a welcoming garden in front of the OCEAN School office, a bench and garden in front of the main office and improvements to the softball field dugouts and changing rooms.
They also will install artwork showing positive messages selected by students on the track and field fence.
“The Port Townsend schools are honored to have been chosen for the Kiwanians’ 75th anniversary project. We are so appreciative of all their support over the years, said Linda Rosenbury, the Port Townsend School District superintendent.
“Our staff has been partnering with their members to plan campus upgrades at our middle school that involve students and community members,” she said. “We look forward to an intergenerational day of service that has a long-lasting impact on everyone who enjoys the Blue Heron/OCEAN campus.”
The school will provide lunch for volunteers.
Interested volunteers can call Melanie Bozak at 360-531-1329 or email mabozak@gmail.com.
A celebration of the club’s 75 years of service to the Port Townsend community will begin at 2 p.m.
The club has supported kids in Port Townsend and surrounding communities through service projects and fundraisers such as Backpacks for Kids, Christmas for Children and Toys for Tots, Stars of Tomorrow, Dinner and a Murder Show, Classic Car Show, Touch-a-Truck, 7th Haven Playground, Teen Leaders Awards, Haunt Town and college scholarships for high school seniors.
Kiwanis Port Townsend also supports the local food banks, Olympic Neighbors, Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Habitat for Humanity, Foster Supports of Jefferson County, Olympic Angels, Dove House, Youth Sports, the Rhododendron Festival and Port Townsend’s Magic of Christmas.
“A well known Kiwanian John. F. Yegge said Kiwanis is a verb and I agree. It’s something you do. Lots of Kiwanians do it a couple of hours a week, some a lot more. But in all of the doing there is a single purpose in Kiwanis — service to our communities, especially to benefit the most needy members of our communities,” said Don Olsen, Port Townsend Kiwanis president.
The club meets weekly at noon Wednesdays at the Highway 20 Roadhouse, 2152 W. Sims Way. Visitors and those interested in joining the club are welcome.
