Members of the Hamilton Heights High School’s Key Club celebrated community service with members from across the nation during Key Club Week, held every first full week in November. This year also marks the 11th year that the Heights’ Key Club has been making a difference inside and outside the high school. The Heights club was formed in 2007 and is currently 58 members strong and growing.
Key Club is an international, student-led organization that offers its members opportunities to provide service, build character, and develop leadership. According to Kiwanis International, more than a century in existence, it is the largest high school service organization in the world with hundreds of chapters in 38 countries.
Heights’ Key Club is sponsored by the Cicero Kiwanis Club, which is has served the greater Northern Hamilton County area and beyond for over 40 years. The Key Club is a part of the Kiwanis International global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children and the communities where they live, work and play.
“An important part of Key Club Week is creating awareness about the club, utilizing this opportunity to highlight projects, promote the club, and show the community what Key Club is all about – service.
“As members, students have the opportunity to give back to the school and community in many ways,” said Felicia Tindal, now into her third year as the club sponsor. Tindal says there are so many benefits to being a part of this club it’s difficult to list them all. “How can you do wrong when you are completing tasks for the benefit of others and not realizing how it is helping you grow in the process?” she said. “Club members are learning amazing life skills while making a difference.”
Tindal recommends students to get involved early on to help build connections, philanthropy and servant leadership throughout their high school years. “We have multiple service events that take place throughout the year,” Tindal continued. “I encourage members to be involved in everything they find interest in and can fit in their schedule – even if it’s only a 30-minute event, it’s still benefiting others. No act of kindness is too small.”
Some of the annual projects Key Club members participate include road blocks with Cicero Kiwanis Club members and helping with the club’s annual Veteran’s Breakfast; assisting at Headless Horseman for Conner Prairie, hosting a Trick or Treat event; participating in the Cicero Christmas Parade; King’s Treasure program; inhouse food backpack program and the primary and elementary schools; creating Valentine Day cards with the K-Kids and delivering those valentines to a local nursing home among others. We are always looking for new service projects to fill voids and contribute our time, talent and treasure where this is a need.
“We are currently preparing to help in partnership with the Cicero Kiwanis Club at the 10th Annual Veteran’s breakfast on Saturday,” added Tindal. “This is one our club’s favorite community service events.”