The Kiwanis Club of Bellevue, like all Kiwanis Clubs around the world, focuses primarily on helping kids. Where there’s a need, Kiwanis wants to meet that need if possible.
Club project chair Bill O’Donnell says, “This project resulted from an Oct. 21 presentation given to the Kiwanis Club of Bellevue by Ronald McDonald House’s CEO, Lindsey Rai Kortan. When asked about needs at the house, she mentioned the rocker-recliners, our board held an impromptu meeting and committed to the project with up to $4,000 in seed money for the $11,500 project, and we went into action. Our club is a ‘make things happen’ club. So, almost exactly two months after our board approved the project, 40 rocker-recliners are being delivered just in time for Christmas.”
In addition to the Kiwanis Club of Bellevue’s contribution, individual club members also contributed, as did a couple of businesses whose owners are members. They include Kay and Pete Ontiveros, Susan and Kirk Hester, Lonnie and Theresa Shumate, Don and Linda Glenn, Solutions Heating and Air, Heartland Financial Solutions, LLC, Ryn and Bob Hahn, and Rita Sanders for Senate. The Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District Foundation funded a $2,000 grant and Cobalt Credit Union added a $1,000 grant. They opened the project up to other Kiwanians and they answered the call very generously with contributions from District Kiwanis Governor Don Fritz, the Southpointe Lincoln club, the Greater Omaha Kiwanis club, Omaha Westside Kiwanis, and Kiwanians Dean and LaRue Marshall of Elkhorn. Nebraska Furniture Mart also helped with deeply discounted pricing for the rocker-recliners.
The donated rocker-recliners will be an excellent addition to all guest rooms, providing comfortable seating for family members as they heal together during their stay at Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha.
“This gift is the true representation of what Kiwanians can do, not only together, but alongside our incredible community” according to Lindsey Rai Kortan, chief executive officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha. “Each club that is participating in this effort is demonstrating what can be done when we stand together and support our surrounding families who are going through their lowest point. It is abundantly clear that they understand that it is the little things that make the biggest difference, and although this price tag is high, the comfort that these recliners will bring families now and for years to come, will forever be felt in our House.”
About RMHC in Omaha:
Founded in 1994, Ronald McDonald House Charities® in Omaha (RMHC in Omaha) provides a temporary home away from home for families of ill or injured children receiving treatment at Omaha medical facilities. RMHC in Omaha provides 40 family guest rooms and more than 14,600 lodging nights annually inclusive of warm beds, hot showers, meals, laundry facilities, family-friendly kitchens, playrooms, and a playground—all the essentials of home.
Additionally, RMHC in Omaha provides wrap-around services delivered by community partners such as a hair salon, financial support, educational programming, mindfulness and yoga, birthday celebrations, a House therapy dog, as well as healing through the arts. These activities are designed to promote hope and healing through ongoing engagement and participation. For more information on RMHC in Omaha, please visit www.rmhcomaha.org.
About Kiwanis Club of Bellevue:
Kiwanis is an international organization of volunteers improving the world one child and one community at a time. Although our focus is on kids, our clubs perform a wide variety of community service functions and band together for district and international projects, such as the recent global effort to eliminate maternal neonatal tetanus, perhaps the biggest cause of death among babies worldwide. The Kiwanis Club of Bellevue performs about 25 service projects during the year, including our signature project, “Every Child A Swimmer”. Other projects include an art show for high school students in Bellevue, Meals on Wheels, serving meals at the Stephen Center, Bellevue’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, backpacks for school children, collaboration with Bellevue Together on their projects, and many more efforts.
