Kiwanis celebrates Mother’s Day with art program
About 35 women arrived at the Pine Island Elks Lodge Saturday morning to celebrate the Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island “Mother’s Day Brunch.” Island artist Mel Meo performed an art demonstration, “How to paint a flower.”
“Today the Greater Pine Island Kiwanis is holding this benefit for the Kiwanis “Eliminate Program,” president elect Joy Veatch said. “The Eliminate Program helps to fund neonatal injections for mother’s in Third World countries against typhoid. The Eliminate Program was the baby of our past president Bessie Phillips. She was very, very involved in it and we wanted to do something for the program.
“The original idea was to have a fashion show but we decided on an art show to include a local artist that would perform a painting demonstration,” Veatch said. “Mel Meo has been on the island for 45 years and as you know Mel’s classes are very popular so we asked Mel and she graciously accepted.”
The modern American holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia. Her campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her beloved mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Due to the campaign efforts of Anna Jarvis, several states officially recognized Mother’s Day. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation creating Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers.
The Eliminate Project, Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus. This deadly disease steals the lives of nearly 49,000 innocent babies and a significant number of women each year. The program also tackles iodine deficiency disorders, achieving one of the most significant public health successes of the 20th century. The project reaches the poorest, most neglected mothers and babies.
Lunch was a choice of quiches with pasta salad and fresh fruit with a side of mixed salad. A chocolate plate: strawberry dipped in chocolate, white chocolate mouse and a selection of chocolates was provided by CW Fudge Factory. Lunch was accompanied by mimosas and iced teas.
The Greater Pine Island Kiwanis Club meets weekly on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at Bert’s in Matlacha, 4271 Pine Island Road.