“Give your hands to serve, and your hearts to love.” – Mother Teresa
Presentation to Kiwanis
The Friends of Copey’s Annual Report was presented to the Tri-Cities Industry Kiwanis Club this week. The Club is a significant partner in our efforts to support the Copey Learning Center. It was both an honor and a time of satisfaction to let the membership hear from me directly.
How many “Friends” are familiar with Kiwanis Clubs? Do you know this is a global organization designed solely to support kids?
Starting in 1915, today there are nearly 450,000 members serving as volunteers
around the world supporting Kiwanis causes
including; health and nutrition, education and literacy, and youth leadership development.
This covers ages from infancy to early adulthood. Kiwanis Clubs exist in practically all communities throughout this country.
https://www.kiwanis.org/who-we-are/mission-and-values/
The “Friends” with careers in education are familiar with K-Kids (elementary age), Key Clubs (secondary age) students, and Circle K Clubs (college or university students). These three school clubs are sponsored by a local Kiwanis Club with the mission to help kids with needs and help build leadership skills.
I have been a Kiwanian for over two decades, served as Club President, with much of my orientation to civic duty and community service rooted in Kiwanis. The relationship between Kiwanis and “Friends” is a natural arrangement since both share the mission of “improving lives of children one community at a time.”
Tri-Cities Industry Kiwanis has officially endorsed our project as an official Kiwanis project. Our relationship is blessed.
Robert Barnard…!
Thoughts and prayers continue for my close friend and devoted “Friend of Copey”, Bob Barnard.
Recall in the post dated November 14, 2022 and the post dated February 26, 2023, I reported on Bob’s health situation and his return home to Washington state from Jaco, Costa Rica. He had to address several serious medical issues.
Last week, Bob had open heart surgery in Seattle and today’s update is very positive. He may be released from the hospital in the next few days.
Overall, there are still some medical issues to be worked on and the process will be slow. He is looking forward to a complete recovery and significant improvement which will allow him to return to Jaco, where he enjoys his retirement. I will keep you posted on his progress and please continue your thoughts and prayers for Bob’s complete recovery.
News from the Copey Learning Center
Although I have not shared a great deal of recent information from the Copey Learning Center, education is alive and well. This semester is documented as an unusually challenging semester caused a shortage of on-site volunteer support.
Ariana, the Copey Learning Center director, is very active conducting classes for the younger students. She is being helped some by a local volunteer with the older students as the shortage is having an impact on the overall efforts. We are still on the front end of the semester and hopes are we will improve this situation soon. All this serves to point out just how fortunate we have been in the past with great support and availability of very competent volunteers.
The door remains open for anyone to consider or recommend someone to be considered for a shorter volunteer tour in Copey.
“Helping others is not a chore. It is one of the greatest gifts there is.” Liya Kebede
Thank you for the update. I’ve been wondering about you and Copey in your internet absence. :-))