Members of the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club gather at Frederick Douglass Elementary on the first Wednesday of every month throughout the school year and read with second graders to help improve their reading skills.
But on the last Wednesday of the 2017-18 school year, the Kiwanis, one of South Florida’s most active community service organization, did things a little bit differently.
First, instead of the “normal” responsive reading Kiwanis members usually do with the kids, Board member Marc Scheinbaum mesmerized the class of inner-city youngsters with his reading of The Little Engine That Could, the classic 1930 story designed to teach children the value of optimism and hard work. In a 2007 poll, the National Education Association (NEA) named the book one of its “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.”
When the reading was done — and as a reward for the kids’ year-long efforts in improving their reading skills — the Kiwanis members threw a surprise “end of the year party” for the class, complete with cup cakes, ice cream and cookies.
And, if that wasn’t enough of a surprise, the Kiwanis Club — as a reminder to keep up their reading skills over the summer vacation — awarded two books to each student. Inside the front cover was a sticker that read, “Enjoy this book from the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club. Reading is fun, pass it on!”
“These kids have been great throughout the year and have definitely improved their reading skills,” said Saul Silverman, longtime Biscayne Bay Kiwanis member and current treasurer. “We wanted to reward their efforts while reminding them that, while summer vacation is fun, reading is a year-around activity.”
The Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club has a wide variety of successful programs serving youngsters in the inner city. They include: an in-school reading program to help second graders prepare for their end-of-year exams; providing lessons in etiquette, civics, and life skills; guided tours of the Everglades for children in shelters, public housing, and foster care; feeding the homeless and giving Thanksgiving meals to families; chaperoning field trips to local attractions, museums and sporting events; volunteering with and providing holiday gifts and field trips to disabled adults; giving school uniforms, supplies and backpacks to children in need, and awarding of college scholarships to high school seniors. During the past seven years, the BBKC has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships throughout Miami-Dade County.
For more information about the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club or to join in one of its community service projects, text or phone the club at 305-814-2225.
