The Southwest Sun September, 2013 | Page 7

University of Arizona The University of Arizona Circle K International Club has kicked off the year with a great start, filled with many new faces, dedicated CKI veterans, fun socials, and exciting projects for our members. We have participated in a variety of local service projects this month including the JC Penny Shopping Spree, volunteering for the Tucson Community Food Bank, Ben’s Bells, and Ronald McDonald House. At the JC Penny Shopping Spree, members partnered with children from our community. With $100 provided by Kiwanis for each child, members helped buy back-to-school clothes and shoes for the kids. The children were extremely happy to go back to school in style, feeling happy and confident and knowing someone cares for them. At the Tucson Community Food Bank, members helped package canned and dry foods for the less fortunate in Tucson. The boxes of food we create are used as supplemental packages for a family’s household. Each time we volunteer at the food bank, we package enough food to support thousands of families in our area. Ben’s Bells Project, a local non-profit organization in Tucson, is dedicated to spreading kindness in the community. The work of Ben’s Bells Project includes making ceramic bells by hand and hanging them around Tucson for people to pick up. When one finds a bell, he or she does an act of kindness for someone else, keeping the bell as a reminder to be kind, or passing it on to send the message to someone else. Our members helped paint the ceramic tokens and bells, preparing them to be sent out. Arizona State University CKI Club joined us and we exchanged club T-shirts to wear our common goal of service with pride. Lastly, our club worked with the Ronald McDonald House. At the Ronald McDonald House, our volunteers made a pasta lunch for those families staying at the house while their child was in the hospital. Ronald McDonald House is always a great project because our members can directly see the impact they are making. We began putting on mini-socials before every meeting this semester. Some of these mini socials have included meeting up to enjoy Eegees, a special Tucson slushy, finding college landmarks in our school scavenger hunt, and playing board games during a club game night. These mini-socials have been a great way for members to get to know one antother. We look forward to an awesome semester of service and fellowship as we continue to serve our community and develop long-lasting relationships. Bear down! Yours in Service, Zachary Gastelum U of A CKI Bulletin Editor 2013-2014 6