As a part of the Christiansburg Kiwanis Club’s support of the clothing and supplies program, club president Kelly Olsen, a teacher at Christiansburg Middle School, recently presented Walmart gift cards totaling $550 each to Christiansburg High School and to Falling Branch Elementary School.,
The Kiwanis club started the ongoing program several years ago at all the Christiansburg schools to serve students in need. Once the schools use up the funds on the cards, they let the Kiwanis Club know and the cards are replaced. Kiwanis funds the card for $500 and Walmart adds $50.
The gift cards are used to purchase much needed school supplies and clothing for students who cannot afford to buy their own.
Funding for service projects such as the clothing and supplies program is generated by the club through fundraising events such as the Kiwanis Wilderness Trail Festival and a gospel concert. One hundred percent of all income from the fundraisers goes back into the community with most going to serve the needs of the children in the Christiansburg area.
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in cancellation of the Kiwanis Club’s fundraising projects for the 2020 year, the club was able to continue with all of its youth support programs. The funds came from club reserves and the Wilderness Trail Festival’s vendors and sponsors who chose to donate their prepaid fees to the club.
