The members of the Kiwanis Club of Cicero are the embodiment of serving others throughout the year, but during the holiday season they take the “season of giving” to heart.
“For most of us, the holiday season is a time for joy and giving,” explained Jan Unger, Kiwanis Club of Cicero member and chair of the King’s Treasure event. “Unfortunately, for families and individuals struggling during the holidays, it can be anything but joyful.”
King’s Treasure was started in 1996 by Cicero Firefighter Danny Kelly. When Kelly was transferred to another department the Cicero Fire Department and the town of Cicero continued the holiday event until 2006, when Kiwanis Club of Cicero took over the event.
King’s Treasure is a day-long event, months in the making. Unger and her committee members work to solicit donations and sponsorships throughout the year. They wrap and place toy collection boxes throughout the communities during the months of November and December. They work out all the “day of” events details with the Cicero Christian Church. They spend a delightful day shopping for truckloads of gifts and arrange for all the food the day of the event.
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Finally, families arrive at the church and the children are greeted by the sight of hundreds of toys from which they get to choose anything they want. Once they have decided on their treasures, they have lunch with their families and at some point, during the afternoon, the jolliest of elves arrives to visit with the children.
“Christmas is a magical time for children,” Kiwanis Club of Cicero President Todd Clevenger said. “It is heartbreaking to imagine a child not being able to experience the joy and wonderment of the season, or the thought of a parent working hard to pay bills and buy food, knowing they just don’t have anything extra for Christmas.”
The Kiwanis Club of Cicero works with the Good Samaritan Network to determine which families to invite to the King’s Treasure event each year, and this year 160 children were invited to participate. Invitations are sent out to the families in November and the Kiwanis members count down the days in anticipation until the event. Any toys left over from the event are donated to Riley Hospital for Children, which gives out approximately 4,000 toys a month.
“As children we’re often taught that giving is better than receiving,” Clevenger said. “Looking around the gym at the faces of our club members during the event, I am going to have to challenge that adage. Giving back during the holidays is more than just spreading good cheer, it’s about ensuring everyone can experience the joy of this special time of year. By giving, we receive so much more!”