Rewarded for a job well done

Trading in their laptops and business suits for aprons and menus, the members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island recently spent a day waiting on island diners.
In March, the Waterfront Restaurant in St. James City was host to the Kiwanis Waterfront Day to raise funds for the club’s scholarship fund. During the course of the day, Kiwanians divided up shifts seating patrons of the restaurant, cleaning tables, tying off boats and peeling shrimp. In return, Waterfront owner J.D. Hollway presented the club with a very generous donation toward the Kiwanis Youth Scholarship Fund.
“The Waterfront is such a beautiful place and JD is a great guy with a big heart and does so much for our island,” said Waterfront Day coordinator and co-chair of the event Patty Burman. “We owe JD a great deal of thanks for making this event such a great success. If it weren’t for JD and people like him, our club would not be able to provide the number of scholarships for our island youth that we continue to award each year.”
A new twist was added to the event this year in the form of a treasure hunt.
“The treasure hunt was very well received and we had many people tell us that they are looking forward to participating again next year,” said Burman. “Area businesses were very generous and helped us to offer great gifts for the treasure hunt.”
Since 1987, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island has presented more than $100,000 in scholarships to island students bound for college or trade schools. This year, the club plans to present several more island graduating students with money to help further their education.
“Each year we are able to present between 10 and 18 scholarships to deserving local students. We are so blessed to have so many talented kids living here on the island,” said Carlyn Herring. “I have served for some time on the scholarship committee and the best part of the process for me is the one-on-one interviews we do with the kids. Getting to know the kids is wonderful and because I used to work at the school. I knew a lot of them when they were little so it is fun to see where they have gotten in life so far.”
Herring also said that many of the scholars keep in touch after they have gone away to school.
“Some of the kids even come to our meetings and have breakfast with us when they are home. Others even have helped us out at our events and it is a way for them to pay it forward, if you will,” said Herring.
The Kiwanis has also raised funds for other noteworthy charitable endeavors, including supporting the Fire Academy scholarships, Pine Island Elementary School Junior Olympics, student education field trips, Pine Island Little League, Mariner High School’s Project Graduation program, Fellow Islanders Sending Help, the Mariner High School Band, Pine Island Elementary Outstanding Student Awards, Pine Island bike path Oasis program, Pine Island Beacon of HOPE, church youth groups and the Youth of Pine Island Scholarship Fund.
The Kiwanis of Greater Pine Island meets each Friday morning beginning at 7:30 at Bert’s Bar and Grill in Matlacha. Each meeting features a guest speaker and all are welcome to join.
From more information about the Kiwanis of Greater Pine Island or to become a member, visit pineislandkiwanis.com