Monday, November 10, 2025
The Kiwanis Club of East Meadow has completed another year of success, concluding with the passing of the torch to new leaders at the 74th annual installation dinner at the Baldwin Coral House on Oct. 9.
Immediate Past President Melody Schiller concluded her term at the head of the Kiwanis. Over the past 12 months, the group has made major advancements in their mission to help young people’s development.
“It’s been a wonderful year,” Schiller said. “Not only did we continue all of our traditional projects and make them bigger and better, but we also added new projects for our community.”
This was the first year where every school in the East Meadow School District had a Service and Leadership Program, accomplished with the inclusion of Parkway Elementary School and the opportunities made available for students in Eden II programs.
Among the year’s accomplishments was the first Kids’ Fair, a festive summer gathering with face paint, bounce houses and free books sourced from another new event: the Barnum Woods K-Kids book drive.
Schiller works as a reading specialist at Barnum Woods Elementary School. Every president pursues a special project in their term. Hers is a book vending machine in each of East Meadow’s five elementary schools, often with game features to add a thrill to the experience.
“It’s wonderful because it shows kids that reading is the prize,” Schiller explained.
“They’re so excited about literacy. I love that.”
“We definitely threaded literacy through a lot of our projects this year,” she continued. “I wanted to make sure that every child has the opportunity to have the right book in their hands and to understand the joy of reading.”
This year also marked an increase in autism awareness programs and meetings.
The Kiwanis Club now sponsors a new group, the Dare Boldly Club, where adult members can focus on strategies that make life and schooling a better experience for students with special needs.
For graduating students, the Flags for Freedom project has begun, where graduating seniors receive a folded American flag from a veteran. Other annual events went off without a hitch, including successful fundraisers, an Arbor Day garden cleanup, the Ronald McDonald House pancake breakfast, and more.
Other metrics of growth include seven new members, six student scholarships, and a higher volume of goods delivered during the group’s food drives than years prior.
Now, the group looks forward to Donna Goldstein’s term as the Club President.
“She really has her finger on the pulse of needs in our community,” Schiller said of Goldstein. “She’s very passionate about helping her community and helping kids.”
Goldstein, previously a Lynbrook resident, is a longtime member of the East Meadow community. She has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years. As her three children reached adulthood, she became more driven to join local programs and served as a PTA Council President until two years ago.
“I wanted to take more of an active role in our community,” Goldstein said. “My kids have benefited so much through the years. I want to bring happiness and give back to my neighborhood.”
Goldstein began working in the East Meadow School District in 2015 and works as the library secretary of Barnum Woods. Working in the district led to her initial exposure to the Kiwanis Club, and since then, the Kiwanis’ programs have become near and dear to Goldstein, she said.
“I was like, I love this,” she said. “I love that we do the food collection, that we give toys to our people in our community. I love to see the smile on these children’s faces.”
Goldstein’s term is beginning with new developments: the Possibility Project, an exclusive opportunity offered by Kiwanis’ International leadership, is a fundraising program that will support literacy, nutrition, and leadership around the world. The program aims to raise $25 million between all participating communities.
“I feel truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful organization,” she said. “We’re like a great well-oiled machine or puzzle that fits perfectly together.”
Goldstein’s term will see a stream of holiday season events. The club’s Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 25 at the East Meadow Ball Fields is being prepared. The multi-stage Thanksgiving food drive will collect food on Nov. 15 and 16 at the ShopRite in Uniondale, as well as the Senior Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 23 at East Meadow High School.
To learn more about upcoming events, visit k03823.Site.Kiwanis.org.
