RECENT PROJECTS

This past month, our club has been working hard to prepare for our two biggest events of the year: the Jenkintown Sunset 5K Run and the Special Athletes Basketball Tournament! Both events are now open for registration, sponsorships, and volunteers. Read on for more details.

We’re also proud to share that the Kiwanis Club of Jenkintown has been named the 2025 recipient of the Munn and Mimi Steelman Legacy Award, recognizing our club’s dedication to service and support of the Abington Aktion Club. We are deeply honored to be part of this meaningful legacy.

This past month we were delighted to host The Center at Hampton House and Storybook Musical Theater as part of our on-going speaker series and learn about the meaningful work these organizations provide to the community.

SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMS

Abington Aktion Club
Abington Aktion Club is holding a collection drive for new and gently-used children’s books in support of the Book Train Project.

Cheltenham High School Key Club
Cheltenham High School Key Club made mini care packages for unhoused individuals by wrapping socks around snacks and securing with a ribbon and hand-written note.

Abington Senior High School Key Club
Abington Senior High School Key Club is raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation Rising Stars program. They have been assigned to raise funds for Maurice, an outgoing 7-year old who dreams of going to Disney World. Help Key Club meet their goal with a donation here.

Abington Middle School Builders Club
Abington Middle School Builders Club is doing a collection drive for Hurricane Relief in Jamaica. They are filling backpacks with school supplies to send to a school in Jamaica.

In December, we hosted our annual Pizza Party with Santa at Jenkintown Day Nursery. Santa visited each of the five classrooms, delighting the children with plenty of smiles and holiday cheer. Every child went home with a gift thoughtfully selected by our Kiwanis members, making it a truly magical day for all.

SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMS

Abington Aktion Club
The Abington Aktion Club spread warmth and holiday cheer throughout the community with several meaningful initiatives.

• Assembled Holiday Treat Bags for unhoused adults during the holiday season
• Packaged and delivered winter warmth items, including hats, gloves, and scarves
• Raised $370 for Safe Harbor of Abington Hospital through their annual Breakfast with Santa event 

Cheltenham High School Key Club
Cheltenham High School Key Club kicked off the year with impactful service projects supporting children and families in need.

• Created 125 encouraging cards for children living with chronic illnesses
• Assembled and donated 40 essential-item Access Bags to the Chester City Community Center

Abington Senior High School Key Club
Abington Senior High School Key Club demonstrated outstanding generosity through their annual food drive.

• Collected over 1,500 pounds of food benefiting six local food banks

Abington Middle School Builders Club
At their December meeting, the Abington Middle School Builders Club focused on hands-on service and collaboration.

• Decorated and filled 100 gift bags, which were included with the Aktion Club’s Holiday Treat Bags for unhoused adults

This holiday season, we are grateful to be sponsoring a family through the Breathing Room Foundation Holiday Program. We look forward to dropping the gifts off to a wonderful family of three.

Several of our members helped out with the Rotary Club of Glenside-Abington‘s Thanksgiving food drive, packing and delivering 75 Thanksgiving meals for families in Cheltenham School District.

In the month of November, our Book Train collected 60 books, which puts at us over 1,000 for the fiscal year so far! We also established a new Book Box at Jenkintown Day Nursery, where parents can browse and take home books to encourage a life-long love of reading.

We hosted many wonderful organizations this last month through our weekly Speaker Series including Briar Bush Nature Center, Worthwhile and Valley Youth House.

SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMS

The Abington Aktion Club made cards for service members in celebration of Thanksgiving. They also held their yearly Banquet of Thanks, a celebration of the Aktion Club’s year of service, new member induction, award presentations and traditional candle lighting. Kiwanis Governor Barbara Carter joined as their keynote speaker for the evening.

The Abington Senior High School Key Club raised $1,000 for Breast Cancer and donated it to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Unite for Her and Breathing Room Foundation.

Global Family Volunteer Day is Saturday, November 22, 2025. Here are 10 simple, kid-friendly ways your family can give back from home.

Create Care Kits
Assemble hygiene kits, snack packs, or warm-weather kits for local shelters or outreach groups.

Neighborhood Clean-Up Walk
Take a family walk with gloves and trash bags to clean up your neighborhood or nearby park.

Write Cards for Seniors
Send cheerful letters or handmade cards to nursing homes or senior centers.

Make Birthday Boxes
Fill shoeboxes with cake mix, frosting, candles, decorations, and a small gift to donate to family shelters.

Donate Gently Used Books
Sort your home library and donate to schools, shelters, or literacy programs.

Make “Kindness Rocks”
Paint inspirational rocks and hide them around your community.

Craft Toys for Shelter Animals
Make simple DIY cat toys or braided dog ropes from old T-shirts.

Assemble Pet Care Packages
Put together bundles with treats, toys, and old towels to donate to an animal shelter.

Bake for First Responders
Make homemade baked goods or snacks to deliver to your local fire or police station.”

Host a Mini Food Drive From Home
Collect canned goods from friends/neighbors (porch drop-off) and deliver them to a food pantry.

We are excited to share that we recently wrapped up our Kiwanis year, which runs from October 1–September 30, and the 2024–2025 year was one of our best yet! As a club, we put in 1,972 hours of hands-on community service. We donated $25,000 to 39 local nonprofits. We had 670 runners join our Jenkintown Sunset 5K Run — our biggest turnout ever! And so much more. 

Thank you to our passionate members and partners who make our community shine.

Our Book Train closed out the year with a total of 5,403 books! Most were donated to Mitzvah Circle and Jenkintown Day Nursery. If you have or know someone who can donate new or gently used books for kids ages 0-10, contact Janet Crawford via email at [email protected].  Pickup can be arranged. Infant or small children’s board books are especially welcomed. 

Our fundraiser for Alex’s Lemonade Foundation at the Jenkintown Festival of the Arts raised $1,466. Special thanks to the Abington High School Key Club for running the booth and selling lemonade and pretzels. 

The  Abington Aktion Club organized a summer “Share A Pair” drive and collected over 1,000 socks for kids and adults in need. The socks were donated to Foster Angels and Angels in Motion.

The Abington High School Key Club made over 100 cards of encouragement for The Breathing Room Foundation, an organization that supports patients diagnosed with cancer and their families. 

We hosted many wonderful organizations this last month through our weekly Speaker Series including Covenant House, MANNA, NAMI Montgomery County and The Breathing Room Foundation.