THE 2023-2024 COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS KIWANIS SUPPORTS
We make a significant impact on the community we serve. We are proud to sponsor/support 18 community service programs dedicated to serving the needs of children right here in Chesterfield County…
ASK was founded in 1975 by a small group of parents of pediatric cancer patients at MCV Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. They joined together to provide mutual support, to search for answers and to deal with the devastating diagnosis. Their mission was simple and remains unchanged today as they continue to strive for ways to make life better for children with cancer. Through little things like fun band-aids or parking passes and meal tickets or big things like providing three important full-time staff members who are dedicated to supporting their patients and their families – a child life therapist, a chaplain and a child psychologist they make a difference for those suffering.
BETTER2GETHER RVA
Families with children battling severe illness face tremendous challenges every day. Support services abound in Richmond for families of childrenfighting well known illnesses like cancer and autism, but notbhing currently exists for families of children battling other rare or complex illnesses. Better2Gether RVA believe that all families, regardless of their child’s diagnosis, deserve access to the same resources and support services.
CHANGE THE WORLD RVA
Change the World RVA supports high school and college students in Richmond, Virginia who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. They are the only all-volunteer organization in the region that partners with churches, organizations and other volunteers to make a meaningful difference in the lives of homeless youth. The volunteers provide food and meals, shelter as needed through host families, rides to take the youth to school or doctors, college financial assistance, and mentoring and support wherever needed.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY/COLONIAL HEIGHTS CHRISTMAS MOTHER PROGRAM
The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother Program is a nonprofit, charitable organization that was established in 1972 by Miss Lucy Corr, then superintendent of the Chesterfield County Welfare Department. The program’s sole purpose is to assist with the special needs of families that are in need during the holiday season. Their mission is to ensure that no family is without food, no child is without toys or clothing and no child or elder is forgotten as we celebrate the holidays in our community. They operate the Christmas Center, distributing gifts to needy recipients, carefully screening each family to determine that they are truly in need.
CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence—the one adult who cares only for them. Last year, nationally more than 70,900 CASA volunteers served more than 237,000 abused and neglected children through 1,055 program offices. CASA volunteers have helped more than two million abused children since the first program was established in 1977.
The Chesterfield Infant Program provides early intervention services for families, infants, and toddlers birth through age two who have diagnosed or suspected delays in development. All families involved with the Chesterfield Infant Program can receive service coordination, a process that connects families with other community resources, supports, and services. Kiwanis provides a Christmas party. Infants and their families have an evening at the Chesterfield Children’s Museum to celebrate the spirit of Christmas with Santa Claus and snacks.
Kiwanis also provides a Family Fun Day. It’s an opportunity for infants and their siblings to have a day of fun with a petting zoo, music, arts and crafts, puppet shows, inflatables, hayrides, and fire engines along with hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, snow cones and soft drinks for the entire family.
CHILDSAVERS
Childsavers was founded in Richmond in 1924 with an early emphasis on serving our region’s children addressing their mental health and developmental needs. Today Childsavers mission specifically focuses on supporting those children who have experienced trauma. Their mission states that “Childsavers guides our community’s children through life’s critical moments with trauma-informed mental health and child development services”. Childsavers also works to ensure high quality child care is available throughout Virginia. High quality care means that children are engaging in meaningful learning and play, guided by qualified caregivers in an enriched educational environment. Childsavers Child Development Services has six core services that provide early care professionals with resources and programs that promote the development of quality early care environments.
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
CIS serves students who often live under tremendous pressure due to poverty, housing instability and poor health. These issues, along with a lack of community support services, language barriers, and high traniency are among the major risk factors for dropping out of school. CIS works with nine of the highest poverty schools in Chesaterfield County, striving to understand the needs, and create the programs and partnerships to address obstacles to learning. The additional interventions and support that CIS provides are integral in making a difference for thousands of students and their families at most risk in Chesterfield County.
CONNOR’S HEROES
Their mission is to build a community of heroes who provide hope, guidance and support to children with cancer and their families. Their goal is help conquer childhood cancer through direct assistance, awareness and research. They provide assistance to children and their families who are being treated for cancer in Richmond, VA at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. They have extensive hands-on volunteering opportunities to help ease the burden of treatment and to help families through this time of crisis and relieve some of the strain and stress during this difficult time in their lives. Their vision is to make fighting childhood cancer a journey a family never faces alone.
The Doorways (formerly Hospital Hospitality House) is one of the oldest hospitality houses in the U.S. and is the largest that operates on donations only. It provides over 112 guest rooms in a renovated hotel. The entire 8th floor is dedicated to pediatric patients and caregivers. The Doorways provides safe, affordable ($0-15/night), comfortable lodging for families in medical crisis. Guests have access to four fully stocked kitchens, a library, laundry room, lounge areas, a fitness center and a chapel. A unique sense of camaraderie exists among guests as all are in medical crisis and often hundreds of miles away from home. They average 150 guests per night with the average stay of 7 days. Volunteers provide over 13,000 hours a year to help keep facility staff numbers low. Two part-time social workers on staff provide counseling and support when needed.
FEED MOREHUNGER RELIEF
Feed More is dedicated to feeding our neighbors who are food insecure in Central Virginia where 1 out of every 9 individuals in the service area is food insecure, meaning that more than 165,000 of our neighbors face hunger. And of that, 1 in 6 children, are not eating enough. The face of hunger isn’t what you think. These are our neighbors working one or more jobs and are still living paycheck to paycheck. When an unexpected medical expense or car trouble hits, their savings are depleted. Then they’re forced to make tough choices between basic necessities – pay the electricity bill or buy healthy groceries for themselves and their families. Where there is need, Feed More is there to help
HEREDITARY HEMORRHAGIC TELANGIECTASIA (HHT) FOUNDATION
HHT is a genetic disorder of the blood vessels that inflicts the lives of more than 1.4 million people worldwide and potentially be life threatening. This inherited disease is characterized by defective blood vessels in the brain, lungs, liver, nose, skin and intestines. It typically begins with nosebleeds during childhood. It is highly treatable but can result in serious health problems if not promptly diagnosed and treated. The HHT Foundation is a patient advocacy organization providing “seed money” for research on promising therapies, improving access to care by adding more HHT Treatment Centers, building a registry of HHT patients to find which treatments work best and by standardizing HHT treatments to ensure patients get global best practices.
KIWANIS CHILDREN’S FUND
Kids need Kiwanis, and the Kiwanis Children’s Fund raises funds to support Kiwanis initiatives in communities around the world. They provide grants for Kiwanis Service Leadership programs (elementary through college), club and district service projects, disaster relief, and the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus as well as iodine deficiency disorders.
YMCA Bright Beginnings helps children from low-income families arrive on their first day of school with new clothes and shoes, a new backpack filled with supplies, and a readiness to learn. We take back to school shopping for granted, but across our region there are families who cannot afford backpacks, school supplies or keep up with the clothing needs of growing children. YMCA Bright Beginnings will serve over 2,400 children this year throughout the Greater Richmond and Southside areas.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) CENTRAL VIRGINIA
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. It is an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in communities to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. They lead public awareness events and activities, including Mental Illness Awareness Week, NAMIWalks and other efforts, to successfully combat stigma and encourage understanding.
RICHMOND FRIENDS OF THE HOMELESS (funded by members)
Richmond Friends of the Homeless was formed in 1987 to strengthen and enrich the community life of the underprivileged and homeless in Richmond, Virginia. A nutritious, hot lunch is served every Monday through Friday at noon. At Broomfield CME Church they serve between 100 and 150 meals daily. At Greater Mount Moriah we serve between 200 and 300 meals daily. At Freddie & Susie’s we provide hearty bag lunches on Saturday and Sundays. The volunteers take care to make each meal special, serving such specialties as Chicken Divan, Shepherd’s Pie, Lasagna and Crab Tortellini, so that no one feels ‘second class.’ Traditional holiday fare is served on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. The Kiwanis Club of Midlothian-Chesterfield is proud to supply and serve lasagna to these worthy individuals about once a quarter.
WORLD PEDIATRIC PROJECT
World Pediatric Project was founded in Richmond with the mission to link worldwide pediatric, surgical, diagnostic and preventative resources to heal critically ill children in developing countries. They accomplish their mission employing various strategies. Teams of highly-trained pediatric specialists, in a variety of disciplines, are sent to the Caribbean and Central America to provide critical care services to patients in WPP partner countries. In a single trip, their teams can provide care and treatment for up to 50 children. Children in need of especially complex care are transported to US hospitals or advanced regional facilities capable of providing the services they need. Their programs equip local doctors and nurses to diagnose and treat critically-ill children by providing training, diagnostic tools and helping improve local hospital infrastructure. In addition, prevention programs targeted at reducing birth defects and preventable disease are developed with healthcare providers in each country.
Community Partners
THE 2023-2024 COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS KIWANIS SUPPORTS
We make a significant impact on the community we serve. We are proud to sponsor/support 18 community service programs dedicated to serving the needs of children right here in Chesterfield County…
ASK CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION
ASK was founded in 1975 by a small group of parents of pediatric cancer patients at MCV Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. They joined together to provide mutual support, to search for answers and to deal with the devastating diagnosis. Their mission was simple and remains unchanged today as they continue to strive for ways to make life better for children with cancer. Through little things like fun band-aids or parking passes and meal tickets or big things like providing three important full-time staff members who are dedicated to supporting their patients and their families – a child life therapist, a chaplain and a child psychologist they make a difference for those suffering.
BETTER2GETHER RVA
Families with children battling severe illness face tremendous challenges every day. Support services abound in Richmond for families of childrenfighting well known illnesses like cancer and autism, but notbhing currently exists for families of children battling other rare or complex illnesses. Better2Gether RVA believe that all families, regardless of their child’s diagnosis, deserve access to the same resources and support services.
CHANGE THE WORLD RVA
Change the World RVA supports high school and college students in Richmond, Virginia who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. They are the only all-volunteer organization in the region that partners with churches, organizations and other volunteers to make a meaningful difference in the lives of homeless youth. The volunteers provide food and meals, shelter as needed through host families, rides to take the youth to school or doctors, college financial assistance, and mentoring and support wherever needed.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY/COLONIAL HEIGHTS CHRISTMAS MOTHER PROGRAM
The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother Program is a nonprofit, charitable organization that was established in 1972 by Miss Lucy Corr, then superintendent of the Chesterfield County Welfare Department. The program’s sole purpose is to assist with the special needs of families that are in need during the holiday season. Their mission is to ensure that no family is without food, no child is without toys or clothing and no child or elder is forgotten as we celebrate the holidays in our community. They operate the Christmas Center, distributing gifts to needy recipients, carefully screening each family to determine that they are truly in need.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE (CASA)
CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence—the one adult who cares only for them. Last year, nationally more than 70,900 CASA volunteers served more than 237,000 abused and neglected children through 1,055 program offices. CASA volunteers have helped more than two million abused children since the first program was established in 1977.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY INFANT PROGRAM
The Chesterfield Infant Program provides early intervention services for families, infants, and toddlers birth through age two who have diagnosed or suspected delays in development. All families involved with the Chesterfield Infant Program can receive service coordination, a process that connects families with other community resources, supports, and services. Kiwanis provides a Christmas party. Infants and their families have an evening at the Chesterfield Children’s Museum to celebrate the spirit of Christmas with Santa Claus and snacks.
Kiwanis also provides a Family Fun Day. It’s an opportunity for infants and their siblings to have a day of fun with a petting zoo, music, arts and crafts, puppet shows, inflatables, hayrides, and fire engines along with hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, snow cones and soft drinks for the entire family.
CHILDSAVERS
Childsavers was founded in Richmond in 1924 with an early emphasis on serving our region’s children addressing their mental health and developmental needs. Today Childsavers mission specifically focuses on supporting those children who have experienced trauma. Their mission states that “Childsavers guides our community’s children through life’s critical moments with trauma-informed mental health and child development services”. Childsavers also works to ensure high quality child care is available throughout Virginia. High quality care means that children are engaging in meaningful learning and play, guided by qualified caregivers in an enriched educational environment. Childsavers Child Development Services has six core services that provide early care professionals with resources and programs that promote the development of quality early care environments.
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
CIS serves students who often live under tremendous pressure due to poverty, housing instability and poor health. These issues, along with a lack of community support services, language barriers, and high traniency are among the major risk factors for dropping out of school. CIS works with nine of the highest poverty schools in Chesaterfield County, striving to understand the needs, and create the programs and partnerships to address obstacles to learning. The additional interventions and support that CIS provides are integral in making a difference for thousands of students and their families at most risk in Chesterfield County.
CONNOR’S HEROES
Their mission is to build a community of heroes who provide hope, guidance and support to children with cancer and their families. Their goal is help conquer childhood cancer through direct assistance, awareness and research. They provide assistance to children and their families who are being treated for cancer in Richmond, VA at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. They have extensive hands-on volunteering opportunities to help ease the burden of treatment and to help families through this time of crisis and relieve some of the strain and stress during this difficult time in their lives. Their vision is to make fighting childhood cancer a journey a family never faces alone.
THE DOORWAYS
The Doorways (formerly Hospital Hospitality House) is one of the oldest hospitality houses in the U.S. and is the largest that operates on donations only. It provides over 112 guest rooms in a renovated hotel. The entire 8th floor is dedicated to pediatric patients and caregivers. The Doorways provides safe, affordable ($0-15/night), comfortable lodging for families in medical crisis. Guests have access to four fully stocked kitchens, a library, laundry room, lounge areas, a fitness center and a chapel. A unique sense of camaraderie exists among guests as all are in medical crisis and often hundreds of miles away from home. They average 150 guests per night with the average stay of 7 days. Volunteers provide over 13,000 hours a year to help keep facility staff numbers low. Two part-time social workers on staff provide counseling and support when needed.
FEED MORE HUNGER RELIEF
Feed More is dedicated to feeding our neighbors who are food insecure in Central Virginia where 1 out of every 9 individuals in the service area is food insecure, meaning that more than 165,000 of our neighbors face hunger. And of that, 1 in 6 children, are not eating enough. The face of hunger isn’t what you think. These are our neighbors working one or more jobs and are still living paycheck to paycheck. When an unexpected medical expense or car trouble hits, their savings are depleted. Then they’re forced to make tough choices between basic necessities – pay the electricity bill or buy healthy groceries for themselves and their families. Where there is need, Feed More is there to help
HEREDITARY HEMORRHAGIC TELANGIECTASIA (HHT) FOUNDATION
HHT is a genetic disorder of the blood vessels that inflicts the lives of more than 1.4 million people worldwide and potentially be life threatening. This inherited disease is characterized by defective blood vessels in the brain, lungs, liver, nose, skin and intestines. It typically begins with nosebleeds during childhood. It is highly treatable but can result in serious health problems if not promptly diagnosed and treated. The HHT Foundation is a patient advocacy organization providing “seed money” for research on promising therapies, improving access to care by adding more HHT Treatment Centers, building a registry of HHT patients to find which treatments work best and by standardizing HHT treatments to ensure patients get global best practices.
KIWANIS CHILDREN’S FUND
Kids need Kiwanis, and the Kiwanis Children’s Fund raises funds to support Kiwanis initiatives in communities around the world. They provide grants for Kiwanis Service Leadership programs (elementary through college), club and district service projects, disaster relief, and the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus as well as iodine deficiency disorders.
MIDLOTHIAN YMCA BRIGHT BEGINNINGS PROGRAM
YMCA Bright Beginnings helps children from low-income families arrive on their first day of school with new clothes and shoes, a new backpack filled with supplies, and a readiness to learn. We take back to school shopping for granted, but across our region there are families who cannot afford backpacks, school supplies or keep up with the clothing needs of growing children. YMCA Bright Beginnings will serve over 2,400 children this year throughout the Greater Richmond and Southside areas.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) CENTRAL VIRGINIA
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. It is an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in communities to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. They lead public awareness events and activities, including Mental Illness Awareness Week, NAMIWalks and other efforts, to successfully combat stigma and encourage understanding.
RICHMOND FRIENDS OF THE HOMELESS (funded by members)
Richmond Friends of the Homeless was formed in 1987 to strengthen and enrich the community life of the underprivileged and homeless in Richmond, Virginia. A nutritious, hot lunch is served every Monday through Friday at noon. At Broomfield CME Church they serve between 100 and 150 meals daily. At Greater Mount Moriah we serve between 200 and 300 meals daily. At Freddie & Susie’s we provide hearty bag lunches on Saturday and Sundays. The volunteers take care to make each meal special, serving such specialties as Chicken Divan, Shepherd’s Pie, Lasagna and Crab Tortellini, so that no one feels ‘second class.’ Traditional holiday fare is served on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. The Kiwanis Club of Midlothian-Chesterfield is proud to supply and serve lasagna to these worthy individuals about once a quarter.
WORLD PEDIATRIC PROJECT
World Pediatric Project was founded in Richmond with the mission to link worldwide pediatric, surgical, diagnostic and preventative resources to heal critically ill children in developing countries. They accomplish their mission employing various strategies. Teams of highly-trained pediatric specialists, in a variety of disciplines, are sent to the Caribbean and Central America to provide critical care services to patients in WPP partner countries. In a single trip, their teams can provide care and treatment for up to 50 children. Children in need of especially complex care are transported to US hospitals or advanced regional facilities capable of providing the services they need. Their programs equip local doctors and nurses to diagnose and treat critically-ill children by providing training, diagnostic tools and helping improve local hospital infrastructure. In addition, prevention programs targeted at reducing birth defects and preventable disease are developed with healthcare providers in each country.