Kiwanis Club of Tempe

Get ready to hop into fun at the Spring Scramble! The Kiwanis Club of Tempe is hosting its free, family-friendly, annual Egg Hunt on March 28 at the Kiwanis Park north soccer field. Activities begin at 8 a.m. Visit kcot.org for more information.

The Kiwanis Club of Tempe wrapped up a rewarding service evening tonight at Community Christian Church, supporting TCAA’s I-HELP program!

I-HELP stands for the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program, a vital initiative run by the Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) in partnership with faith communities and volunteers. For over 17 years, it has provided emergency overnight shelter, evening meals, showers, laundry, case management, and resource navigation to help up to 40 adults (18+) experiencing homelessness in Tempe work toward stability and housing.

Tonight, our club members stepped up to prepare and serve dinner for the 50 clients in the program, plus pack lunches for the next day—all at 1701 S. College Ave, Tempe.

It was heartwarming to see our team in action: some prepared home-cooked meals in advance, others helped with delivery or on-site setup, and many served directly with smiles and kindness from 5:00–6:00 pm.

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered—your generosity makes a real difference in our community! 💙

If you're inspired to help, TCAA's I-HELP always welcomes volunteers for meal prep, delivery, or serving. Check their site (tempeaction.org) or sign-up opportunities for upcoming needs.

Tempe Threadz Project gets $2,000 grant for students

The hail stones Wednesday stripped leaves from trees and shrubs in front of our house as if the pebble stone ground was really covered by grass.

🦃🏈 Join the Kiwanis Club of Tempe for a Thanksgiving Season Food Drive & NFL Sunday Football! 🏈🦃

Hello, everyone! This Sunday, November 16th, from 2 PM to 5 PM, we're thrilled to invite you to a special community event organized by the Kiwanis Club of Tempe at Doc and Eddy’s Bar, 9909 E Minton Dr, Tempe, AZ. We're combining a food drive with NFL Sunday excitement, and it’s a fantastic chance not only to support a great cause but also to dive into local community activities.

Special Guest: Councilmember Randy Keating
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet and chat with Tempe City Councilmember Randy Keating, who will be actively participating in the food drive. It's a perfect time to learn more about our community leaders and their roles.

🍛 Donate & Make a Difference: We’re collecting essential Thanksgiving items to support families in need through the Tempe Community Action Agency:
- Turkey
- Canned veggies (corn, green beans)
- Canned cream of mushroom soup
- Canned cranberry sauce
- Instant potatoes
- Stuffing
- Gravy (no glass)
- French fried onions
- Chicken broth or bouillon cubes
- Pumpkin pie filling

🌟 Discover the Kiwanis Club of Tempe
This event is more than just watching football and donating; it's a fantastic opportunity to learn about the Kiwanis Club of Tempe. Come meet some of our members and discover how you can get involved in making a positive impact in our community. Whether you’re interested in community service, leadership opportunities, or simply want to make new friends, the Kiwanis Club of Tempe has something for everyone.

🏈 Come for the Fun, Stay for the Impact
Even if you’re not a football aficionado, join us for the community spirit and cause. We’re looking forward to a great turnout and hope to see many familiar and new faces. Let’s enjoy the day, contribute to a meaningful cause, and strengthen our community bonds.

I joined with 15 Tempe Kiwanians and hundreds from many organizations in the annual Tempe Veterans Day Parade down Mill Avenue from Gammage auditorium to Tempe Beach Park. Judy Aldrich let me ride again in her BMW convertible with my name on a metallic sign. I wear a medallion from being inducted into Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2011.

Many thanks to Arizona AG Kris Mayes for joining us at our regular luncheon meeting and discussing the important work done in the AG’s office. is protecting the people of Arizona from predatory practices and criminal activity. For this, we are grateful.

Six from the Kiwanis Club of Tempe today did a lunchtime Interclub visit to the Kiwanis Club of Tempe Nuevo. It was at the Rural Road Denny's restaurant. Picured, from left, Ed Bufford, Councilman Berdetta Hodge, Councilman Doreen Garlid (interclub chair), Lawn Griffiths, Laura Taylor and Allison Ewers, president of the governing board of Tempe Elementary School District.

📚 Helping Young Readers Soar with Experience Corps! 📚

Last Thursday, the Kiwanis Club of Tempe had the pleasure of hearing from Candace Heath, coordinator of Experience Corps, a literacy-focused program affiliated with AARP that’s changing lives—one book at a time.

Introduced by David Whitehorn, who’s also a volunteer in the program alongside Kiwanians Debbie Sands and Sharon Doyle, Candace shared the heartwarming and powerful story of how older adults are helping Tempe’s youngest learners reach reading benchmarks by third grade.

📖 Since 2006, Experience Corps in Tempe has:
✔️ Grown to 140 volunteers
✔️ Served 17 TD3 schools
✔️ Reached 490 students this year alone
✔️ Delivered more than 11,000 tutoring sessions
✔️ Achieved a 90% volunteer retention rate

The program matches volunteers aged 50+ with 1st to 3rd grade students needing extra reading support. Each student receives two 30-minute sessions per week full of reading, games, and mentorship—helping them not only catch up but build confidence for years to come.

Candace, a former kindergarten teacher, was joined by Karen McNally, who’s been involved with the program since day one—19 years and counting!

🔗 Learn more or get involved at: https://www.aarp.org/experience-corps

🥚 KCOT’s Annual Easter Egg Scramble Was a Smash!
We had a perfect day at Kiwanis Park with tons of eggs, a pancake breakfast, and an epic Easter Bunny appearance (shoutout to Tempe High’s Aziz Sanchez). Huge thanks to Tempe High Key Club and all the volunteers who made this event a success!

🌽 KCOT Korn Roast – May 10 @ 6PM
Hosted by Shana Ellis & Todd, this tradition is over 70 years strong! $40/person – food, co****le, karaoke & community! RSVP:
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]

🎪 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Help run games & treats at Carminati Elementary School Carnival
📅 May 16 | 🕒 3–5 PM
📩 Contact Oliver Yandle at [email protected]

🚗 Interclub Alert:
KCOT will complete the Division 10 tour with a final interclub visit to Casa Grande Kiwanis Club
📅 June 12 | 🕖 7–8 AM
📍 Casa Grande High School District Office
Want to carpool? Let Doreen know! [email protected]

🗓️ Upcoming KCOT Events:

🔹 May 15: Business Meeting at Friendship Village
🔹 June 5 & June 19: Noon Meetings at Hundred Mile Brewery
🔹 June 12: Interclub to Casa Grande

👥 Interested in joining KCOT?
We’re a fun, impact-driven service club meeting 1st and 3rd Thursdays for lunch, with events all month long. If you're passionate about community, leadership, and service, come see what we're about!