Service Projects

Downtown Christmas Tree Decorating was accomplished on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving by several club members. This is the fifth year the club has decorated the tree in preparation for the lighting ceremony held at the conclusion of A Dixon’s Christmas the Saturday following Thanksgiving. The club thanks the City of Lakeport Public Works Department for providing lift vehicles.

Halloween 2021 Costume Contest was held in conjunction with Treat or Treat Main Street in downtown Lakeport. Prizes were given in a number of age groups. The club has held a Halloween Carnival every year for over 30 years until Covid – 19 came to town last year. Again this year the indoor carnival could not safely be held. The costume contest filled the club’s desire to do something for the community for Halloween.

Valley Fire Recovery Projects

The Valley Fire brought devastation to southern Lake County.  The fire burned 76,067 acres while destroying 1280 homes and 27 multi-family buildings.  In keeping with Kiwanis’ stated mission of “improving the world, one child and one community at a time”, the Club has completed three projects to assist the children of the Cobb community

The third project and the most recent was the distribution of 2500 Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir seedlings.  The week of March 1, 2016 Club members and CalFIRE staff were on the campus of Cobb Mountain Elementary School visiting the Gardening Classes discussing the need to reforest the area and providing a hands-on planting demonstration.  You can watch a student made video of the Garden Class here.  On Friday of that week, each student received two trees and planting instructions as they were dismissed from school.

Project Chairperson, Jim Harvey, demonstrates the correct way to plant a pine tree seeding.

On Saturday, March 5, 2016 trees were available to the community for pick up at the Cobb Mountain Elementary School campus.

Cobb Mountain Elementary students plant a tree on their school grounds.

The Kiwanis Club of Lakeport appreciates the additional financial support provided to these projects by the Oakland, Alameda, Petaluma, Healdsburg and  San Jose Kiwanis Clubs. Additionally, the Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation awarded a Disaster Relief Grant.

 

Club members pack backpacks for distribution to children who are victims of the Valley Fire.

This Club’s project provided backpacks and school supplies to children who have lost their homes and all of their possessions. Backpacks are being distributed to every school district in the county where survivors are attending school. In the Middletown Unified School District approximately 25% of the students were made homeless.

Some of the backpacks and supplies awaiting packing.

The Club’s second project provided 50 fleece jackets to students at Coyote Valley Elementary School in Hidden Valley and Cobb Mountain Elementary in Cobb Mountain.

Grillin’ on the Green

Kiwanis spouse, Ethel Wiskerchin, is ready to serve the prize winning ribs.

For the tenth straight year the Club has entered a team in the Grilllin’ on the Green Barbecue Cook Off.  This is the annual fundraising event for the Westside Community Park in Lakeport.

The Team; Head Griller Jim Harvey, Wally Cox, John Wiskerchin, Mike Powers, Val Schweifler

This year the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport won both the People’s Choice Competition and the Celebrity Judges’ Award with its Beer Ribs.  The team was lead by Head Griller Jim Harvey.

Lakeport Kiwanis teams with Lakeport Main Street Association to help create a Very Merry Christmas in the downtown area.

In preparation for the Downtown Lakeport Christmas decorating, Kiwanians Ross Kauper, Val Schweifler, John Wiskirchen, Mike Ewing, Pat Cox, Mike Powers, Wally Cox, Andre Ross, and Joyce Porterfield function tested the Kiwanis Christmas tree lights and the City of Lakeport Main Street lighted wreaths. Val, Ross and Pat researched replacement lighting options for the tree and Val purchased the additional lights needed. Christmas wreaths and lamppost holiday lighting was installed by the City on November 17.

Val coordinated with Lake County to facilitate the decorating of the Christmas Tree located in Museum Square on November 24.  The decoration crew consisted of Ross, Dennis Rollins, Val, Nancy Hendricks, Mike P., Mike E., and Joyce.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony with tree lights, candles, and song sheets was held on November 29 at the conclusion of the Lakeport Downtown Christmas parade.  Approximately 400 people were in attendance.

Click here to see more of our projects.

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John Wiskirchen and Bob Reynolds set fence posts.

For the 2017 Kiwanis One Day, April 1, several club members reported to the Westside Community Park in Lakeport to complete some needed projects.  Fencing was installed and signs were placed in various locations.  The Kiwanis Club of Lakeport has taken on many projects over the last several years to assist with the park’s development.

Mike Ewing digs a hole for a the “Dogs Must Be on a Leash” sign while Brad Rasmussen lends moral support.

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Members & associates load the 40 yard dumpster.

As part of Kiwanis International’s Kiwanis One Day where all clubs are called upon to provide service to their community, the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport worked at the Westside Community Park.

Wally Cox cleans up with the power washer.

Fifteen members and associates came together to help prepare the newly acquire caretaker home and property for occupancy.

Val Schweifler cleans up.

This involved power washing the house and installing screens, cleaning up debris (enough to fill a 40 yard dumpster), removing an old above ground swimming pool and trimming some trees.

Jennifer Richardson washes windows at the caretaker home.

Additionally, a crew turned an old Quonset hut into a secure, locked storage unit.

Member Mike Ewing and visiting future Lt. Gov. Greg Clegg from Santa Clara County board of window in the storage area.

The work was followed by a picnic lunch.

Annual Projects

The Kiwanis of Lakeport sponsors or participates in several activities to support youth in our community.  We also raise funds in support of our scholarship program. View the 2014 Scholarship Recipients and obtain application information.

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The pancake breakfast and craft fair scene.

Each Memorial Day we serve a Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Lake County 4H Clubs.  4Hers and their parents provide table service.  On Saturday and Sunday of that weekend the club hosts a Craft Fair.

Master of Ceremonies, Mike Ewing, and judges view the parading costumes.

On  the club puts on a Halloween Party for children and their families in the Clear Lake High School gym.  The party includes Halloween themed carnival games, costume contests and guess the weight of the giant pumpkin contest.  CLHS’s Scholastic and Interact Clubs and Kelseyville High School’s Interact Club operate  the games each year.  Attendance in usually in the 800 to 850 people range.

CHRISTMAS PROJECTS: Each Christmas Season the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport makes donations to the Clear Lake High School Christmas for Kids, the Lake County Christmas Basket Program, Wreaths Across America, decorating the tree in Museum Square in downtown Lakeport.

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Jim, Ross, John and Val are ready to gill at Grillin’ on the Green

Each August, Club members serve delicious BBQ ribs at the Annual Grillin’ on the Green BBQ Cook Off fundraising event for the Westside Community Park Committee.

Each year, we do the following:

  • Free Kitchen (every quarter of the year)
  • Memorial Day Craft Fair and Pancake Breakfast at Natural High School
  • Halloween Party at Clear Lake High School Gym
  • Support Clear Lake High School’ Christmas for Kids program.
  • Donate Books to Lakeport Schools’ Libraries
  • Grill for Grillin’ on the Green at the Westside Community Park
  • Roadside Cleanup on Soda Bay Road
  • Publish and distribute a Worship Directory listing information for churches located in the North and West areas of Lake County

One Time Projects

The Kiwanis Club of Lakeport occasionally receives requests to complete projects for various community groups.  These requests are considered by the Board of Directors.

For the second year, on August 19, 2015 members of the club barbequed hot dogs for the Mendocino College, Lake Center Welcome Back lunch.  Members doing the cooking were; Jennifer Richardson, Joyce Porterfield, Mike Powers, Bruce Brower, Val Schweifler,  and Ross Kauper.

Members of the Channel Cats Swim Team serve diners their breakfast.

In September, 2014 the club prepared a pancake breakfast to support the Lake County Channel Cats Swim Team.  Members of the team and their parents provided table service.

 

Some One Time Projects the club supported are:

  • an Eagle Scout project to improve the American flags which line Lakeport’s Main St. during holidays
  • a Senior student’s project to construct a disc golf course at Clear Lake High School and remodeling of restrooms for People Services, Inc.
  • Channel Cats pancake breakfast
  • Fundraising pancake breakfast for Clear Lake High School band trip
  • Pancake breakfast to recognize Lake County cancer survivors
  • Landscape planting at the Soper-Reese Theater
  • Oak tree protection at Westside Community Park
  • Baseball dugout construction at Westside Community Park
Club members have finished installing the roofs on the dugouts at the Westside Community Park.

 

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