r By Douglas G. Hamilton
Early Saturday morning, December 8, hundreds of youth and adults will be fanning out across the city to pick up bags of food donations to the annual Springville Kiwanis Sub-for-Santa drive. This event has been going on for decades. Last year citizens of Springville donated 1,600 service hours and over 26,000 pounds of food to the effort. Those donations went to almost 350 Springville families (including over 700 children) via local churches and the Nebo School District.
To prepare for the food drive, the Springville High School Key Club, a Kiwanis-sponsored service club, gathered together about 130 of its members and other student volunteers on November 8th to label the collection bags. Local scouting organizations will place the bags on your door-step. On Saturday, December 8, those bags will be gathered up and delivered to the Springville Art Museum’s “Art Shop” for sorting into manageable boxes by another army of volunteers. You may also drop off non-perishable food at the Art Shop (East of the Springville Art Museum) at 443 S. 200 East on December 8th from 9:00 AM to noon. On Monday, December 10, local leaders pick up the food and gift cards and deliver them to the designated Springville families.
According to Bryce Packard, President of the Kiwanis Club of Springville, “The Sub-for-Santa food drive begins in the summer with the Kiwanis Scone Booth at Art City Days. The Scone Booth is the main fundraiser for the Sub-for-Santa food drive, and 100% of the money is spent here in Springville for deserving families.
Many corporate sponsors donate generously, but our Ream’s Market in Springville goes even further by donating many items like the food bags, water and snacks for the volunteers, and anything else we might need.
The Springville High School Key Club organizes student volunteer workers. Without them, two dozen Kiwanians wouldn’t be able to make the Sub-for-Santa food drive happen.” Chad Bishoff, President-elect of Kiwanis stated: “In mid-November, Nebo School District, LDS and other community churches identify how many needy families and children there are in Springville.
I’m glad I can be part of this community and this kind of effort.” Kiwanian, Doug Hamilton said: “It is amazing what this small community can do to encourage smiles on the faces of our Springville neighbors. Please help with your generous donations.”
Anyone thinking about joining the Kiwanis Club can check out their website at Springville-Kiwanis.org. They also meet almost every week at Lemon & Sage Artisan Kitchens for a noon lunch meeting.
