How We Serve
Annually, the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Rapids supports many programs to improve the lives of children and youth. Here are some prominent initiatives:
Kiwanis Miracle League
The Miracle League is part of a nationwide movement to ensure every child has a chance to play baseball - regardless of their abilities.
The Miracle League in Linn County was initiated by the Marion Metro Kiwanis Club, which did major fundraising for the development of the field. The league is sponsored by the three metro area Kiwanis Clubs. You can learn more about the league here.
Many volunteers are needed to run the league games. You can sign up for a time and volunteer job here, once signups begin in the spring.
Miracle Field at Prospect Meadows
1890 County Home Rd
Marion, IA 52302
Shoes for Foster Children
We work with Families Helping Families of Iowa to provide shoes for children in foster care. In the last year, we provided 550 vouchers to foster parents throughout Iowa.
With our voucher, a foster parent and child can choose a new pair of shoes at any Kohl's Department Store. Each child is eligible for two vouchers per year.
Foster parents apply online. Families Helping Families administers applications, and our club administers the finances. Both contribute funding for the program.
We welcome all contributions to the shoe program. You can contribute by credit care here, or use Venmo @CRKiwanis.
Sponsored Youth Organizations
Kiwanis International is a "family" of organizations that focuses on teaching young children about the responsibilities of good citizenship, community service and building future leaders.
Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for high school students in the United States. Our Kiwanis Club sponsors Key Clubs at Kennedy, Prairie, and Xavier High Schools. These Key Clubs independently initiate service projects and community service activities throughout the school year. Our club works through an adviser in each youth organization to coordinate our participation with their activities or to have them work with us on major service programs and fundraisers.
Circle K International is the world's largest student-led collegiate service organization and is committed to developing leaders by offering unique service, leadership, and fellowship opportunities that not only change the world but change members' lives. Our Kiwanis Club sponsors the Coe College Circle K club, which was chartered in the spring of 2023 with 17 members. It meets biweekly and initiates service projects and community service activities throughout the school year.
Aktion Club is the only service club for adults with disabilities, with more than 12,000 members worldwide. We sponsor an Aktion Club at the ARC of East Central Iowa. Our club's liaison, Ann Brendes, helps the organization and coordinates our participation with their activities.
Kiwanis Service Scholarships for Seniors
Our club annually awards four or more scholarships to senior members in good standing of our Kennedy, Prairie, and Xavier High School Key Clubs. Key Club members may apply through their club adviser. The deadline for application is April 24, and the application form is available here.
And Still More
Here are some more efforts in which we are currently involved:
- Contributing to improvements to local public parks.
- Packing food packs for HACAP.
- Assisting and providing books for the HACAP preschool.
- Assisting with the Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Department's Rollin' Recmobile.
- Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army.
- Project Linus - National Make a Blanket Day