Students observe national day of service

Students in Kiwanis-sponsored Service Leadership Programs from elementary schools through college, braved the pouring rains of last Friday, Sept. 11 to answer the call to honor those lost in the terrorist attacks of 2001 and celebrate the spirit of service demonstrated by the first responders and Americans throughout the country in response to the attacks.

Locally, the members of the Bowling Green K-Kids held a special morning meeting and service project to decorate firefighter-themed cookies to show their thanks and admiration to the volunteer firefighters of the East Meadow Fire Department. The homemade cookies were in the shapes of fire hydrants, fire engines and fire helmets. The K-Kids added icing, sprinkles and red chocolate. The K-Kids were assisted by East Meadow Kiwanis Club President Rich Santer who also serves as their faculty advisor, their Principal Maria Ciarametaro, their Asst. Principal Frank Lukasik, Long Island Circle K Lt. Governor Rickie Santer and Levittown Kiwanis President-Elect Lisa Santer.

After the cookies were decorated and the K-Kids began classes, Circle K Lt.. Governor Rickie Santer left Bowling Green to begin a weekend-long Large-Scale Service Project at the New York District Kiwanis Foundation’s Kamp Kiwanis in upstate Taberg. Kamp Kiwanis serves needy and disabled children by providing a week-long summer camp experience free of charge. Lt. Governor Rickie, sophomore at Adelphi University, and C.W. Post Circle K President Kristin Leverone drove students from SUNY-Stony Brook, NYIT, Adelphi, CW Post and NYU to meet with Circle K members from throughout the state to do camp laundry, file the camp’s end-of-season paperwork and shellac a new cabin.