FROMONLINE | 2011-09-27

  • Kiwanis celebrates 90 years of service to the community by giving
  • September 27, 2011
  • 365
FROMONLINE | 2011-09-27
FROMONLINE | 2011-09-27
FROMONLINE | 2011-09-27
                        
Summary: The New Philadelphia Kiwanis Club celebrated 90 years of service to the community on Sept. 27 at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center at Dover. New Philadelphia Mayor Mike Taylor presented the club with a framed proclamation honoring all their hard work. The club presented a check for $1000 to the Union Hospital pediatric unit to commemorate the day. Tuesday was a special day for the New Philadelphia Kiwanis Club. Having served the community for 90 years, New Philadelphia Mayor Mike Taylor honored the club with a proclamation declaring September 27, 2011 as a day to honor the New Philadelphia Kiwanis Club for all their hard work and dedication to the city. A luncheon was held at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center at Dover. Current club president, Darla Carlisle was on hand to receive the framed proclamation as well as many other members of the esteemed service club. “I am proud to be here today to honor the Kiwanis Club,” said Mayor Taylor. “Can you imagine what it would be like without service clubs and all the volunteers that dedicate their time and their talents to make our community a better place to live?” In true Kiwanis style the club wanted to acknowledge the day as not only one where they were recognized but as a day where they too gave something back to the community. Keeping with the Kiwanis mission of helping children, the club presented a check for $1000 to the Union Hospital Pediatric Unit. Carey Gardner, Director of Development and Community Relations and Marsha Shrock, Manager of Obstetrics and Pediatrics at the hospital attended the luncheon to accept the gift. “As part of our 90th Anniversary we wanted to do something special to commemorate the day by giving back to the community,” said Carlisle. “When I told Marsha that Kiwanis was making this gift available to the hospital and specifically to the pediatric unit she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it,” said Gardener. Union hospital’s pediatric department is a twelve bed unit which is actually six rooms. The hospital staff strives to always have a bed available in each room for the patient and a parent so that the patient’s stay at the hospital is less stressful. They cannot always accommodate when they have more patients but they do the best they can so that children are never alone while they recover from illness or injury. “We have been so blessed by organizations such as Kiwanis in keeping kids in an uncomfortable situation just a little bit happier,” said Shrock. “We are missing a vital piece of equipment called a portable oximeter unit. It is a hand held unit. What that does is measure the amount of oxygen in the blood of a patient. 70% of our admissions are respiratory-related and this piece of equipment would really help us when we do patient assessments.” The portable oximeter unit costs approximately $500 according to Shrock. “Another area where we are hurting in the pediatric unit is toys. It’s difficult because sick kids can’t always play together,” said Shrock. Patients are able to choose a toy from the play area and keep that toy in their room during their stay. Currently many of the hospital’s toys are old, broken, missing pieces or are not age appropriate. “With infection control issues we have to be very selective as to what donations we can accept when people drop off toys,” said Shrock. The hospital is in need of new toys that can be easily washed and appeal to children ages 3-12. “This check will allow us to purchase some new toys and once again, we are so blessed,” said Shrock. Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to serving the needs of children. The New Philadelphia chapter was founded in 1921 and currently has 33 members. Since the club’s inception, they have given over $2 million to the community. Local students have received over $200,000 in college scholarships, $8,000 of those dollars were in 2011. Currently the club has contributed $13,372 to the community in 2011. The New Philadelphia Kiwanis Club holds weekly meeting at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center at noon. They are always seeking new members. The clubs next event will be the annual pancake breakfast at the Tuscora Park indoor pavilion on Nov. 1.


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