What is Kiwanis? We ask ourselves that question at the start of each Thursday meeting.

The answer, you ask? Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one community and one child at a time.

The mission of all local Kiwanis chapters is to serve the children of our area. This week we are giving you the opportunity to help in that mission through our annual Christmas auction. Historically, this fundraiser has taken place during our regular lunch meeting but this year we are moving it to Thursday evening in hopes that more in the community can participate in this truly fun event.

Thursday we will start the evening with our quarterly social at the Carriage House, beginning at 5 p.m., to give the community an opportunity to learn more about who we are and what we do.

Hor d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar available. At 6 p.m. the fun kicks into high gear with the start of the auction itself. Each club member is responsible for providing an item to sell so the range can go from gift certificates to gift baskets to weekend getaways, and everything in between! And it isn’t a silent auction, no sir!

The auction is the real thing and the bidding gets fast and furious! Just ask the Lindleys. One year they were each driving up the price on an item before they realized they were bidding against each other! But no matter. The funds raised are all for good causes.

In fact, all the monies raised during our fundraisers stay right here in the Miss-Lou.

We take on several projects each year for area agencies that work with children, like Kyle’s House when it was open, the Natchez Children’s Home and the Sunshine Shelter, and we’ve also completed projects at the Historic Jefferson College and other places around town.

Additionally, we offer scholarships to our Key Club members as they go on to further their education. Key Clubs are the high school affiliates of Kiwanis Club and we are proud to support four active Key Clubs in our area with a possible fifth in the works.

So won’t you join us? Here is a perfect opportunity to do a little Christmas shopping and have a lot of fun in the process. No crowds to fight, no long lines and easy parking! Please, open your hearts, and your wallets, and come to the Carriage House this Thursday, starting at 5 p.m. for food and fellowship and auction at 6 p.m., and help us spread some Christmas cheer. We’ll see you then!

 

Deanne Tanksley is a member of the Natchez Trace Kiwanis.