Folks sitting down on Sunday evenings to play Kiwanis TV Bingo on YourTV cable television might not realize they are helping people all over St. Catharines and the Niagara region. The proceeds support everything from feeding children in the summer, to assisting victims of abuse, to welcoming offshore workers who are vital to the region’s farming sector.
On July 7, sixteen non-profit groups and agencies that make a big difference in the community gathered at the Kiwanis seniors housing complex on Geneva Street in St. Catharines to receive $100,000 in proceeds from the city’s Kiwanis Club during the “Kiwanis Day of Giving.”
Kiwanis president-elect Bob Romeo said the event was a chance to showcase the important work these groups do — and to thank the bingo players who have made it possible for the Kiwanis to donate about $160,000 in total this year through bingo proceeds.
“We love working with you,” Romeo told those gathered. “We appreciate everything you do in the community. The more we can fundraise, the more we can help you.”
Frances Hallworth, chief executive officer of the United Way of Niagara, said her agency received $30,000 for programs in Thorold and Lincoln. The funding will directly help children through school backpack donations and a summer food program.
The summer program is critical for children who usually rely on in-school nutrition programs, which shut down during the summer months.
“Those nutrition programs are closed down in the summer, but it doesn’t mean the families still aren’t in need,” Hallworth said.
She added that the Kiwanis Club has been a longtime ally of the United Way, supporting efforts to help people in need by funding a wide range of agencies. The club also runs housing for low-income seniors and has supported projects like the St. Catharines hospital and the Kiwanis Aquatics Centre.
By Paul Forsyth, Niagara This Week - Niagara Falls