Kiwanians grateful for chance to give back to community

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This article was published 08/08/2017 (3040 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When former U.S. president Jimmy Carter visited Winnipeg last month to build Habitat for Humanity homes, it brought back fond memories for Norman Velnes of Carter’s first visit to the city in 1993.

Velnes is a volunteer with the Kiwanis Club of Winnipeg, which was involved in Carter’s 1993 Habitat build.

“That was a hugely exciting project,” the 75-year-old recalls.

It’s just one of the ways Velnes has given back since he joined Kiwanis in 1984.

The international organization has clubs in 80 countries, each working to better their local communities through service projects and fundraisers.

Velnes has served on the board of the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, which helps young people in 60 countries around the world through grants, scholarships and youth programs.

Locally, Velnes has been involved in a variety of service projects, most recently volunteering with a group of fellow Kiwanians at West Broadway Youth Outreach’s 5ish Fun Run.

“We did the simple thing of feeding people, but it’s adding the extra person power to that organization that then allows them to (offer) the kind of support for children in the community that makes a huge difference,” Velnes says.

In June, the Kiwanis Club of Winnipeg marked 100 years of community service. As part of its celebrations, the club is hosting the 2017 Kiwanis Western Canada District Convention Thursday through Sunday.

Kiwanians from Dawson Creek, B.C., to Thunder Bay, Ont., will gather at the Fort Garry Hotel for motivational presentations and entertainment, including an appearance by Jane Erickson, president of Kiwanis International.

Velnes and his friend, Bruce Berven, are co-chairmen of the planning committee. Berven joined the organization in 1986, and he is especially passionate about Kiwanis because it offers service clubs to students at every level of their education, from elementary school to university.

“Working with young people, and getting the opportunity to get involved, whether it’s in a mentorship role or providing some guidance, is what I most enjoy,” the 71-year-old says.

In true Kiwanis fashion, there is a service component to the convention.

At the event, Kiwanis is collecting clothing for You Can’t Spoil a Baby, a local organization that delivers baby clothes and other items to help Manitoba families in need.

It is also collecting dolls for the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute, which will give the dolls to refugee children who have recently arrived in Winnipeg.

“I’ve always kind of believed that if you’re fortunate enough to live in places like we do and you’re reasonably affluent, you have a responsibility to give back to the community,” Berven says.

Velnes agrees.

“Communities really thrive when there’s a strong volunteer base that looks for things that need to be done that either the government or corporate world can’t do,” he says.

Berven invites anyone who is interested in joining Kiwanis to visit winnipeg.kiwanisone.org or to call him at 204-771-8429.

“We’re always looking for men and women that want to give back to the community,” he says. “The more hands we have, the more service we can provide.”

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.