By Linda Moody
GREENVILLE — The Kiwanis Aktion Club, which was featured on the cover of the weekend edition of The Daily Advocate for making chemo bags for cancer patients, was chartered in May 2016 and is a member-led group.
“We have nearly 42 members in Aktion Club, comprised of adults with disabilities,” said Sue Huston, community connections coordinator for the Darke County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Darke DD). “We heard from other counties with developmental disabilities boards about their Aktion Clubs and approached Greenville Kiwanis Club by giving a presentation to its members. Kiwanis was very excited and accepted us. It’s been a great partnership. We help them with their pancake breakfast which is coming up and help them with manning the fair gates. We work with Kiwanis members and Key Club members on projects.”
In addition to Huston, Cheryl Pressly, is an adviser of the club. Pressly is the resource coordinator for Darke DD.
The two women said the Aktion Club members not only make the chemo bags but also make sleeping mats for the homeless out of plastic shopping bags, partnership with both Krista Fourman at the Solid Waste District and the women from Trinity Lutheran Church in Versailles, who also make the mats.
The club is also collecting bottle caps for Fourman.
“We have businesses, individuals and schools collecting,” Huston said.
“We did the food challenge with Shelby County Aktion Club,” Huston reported. “They challenged us to a food drive. We collected nearly 452 non-perishable food items. We were thrilled because it was our first time. We gave our items to the Ansonia Food Pantry as a thank-you for being supportive of us.”
The club meets at the Ansonia United Methodist Church, High and Pearl streets, the fourth Monday of every month from 10 to 11:30 a.m
Aktion Club is also planning to work with the upcoming Trash Bash, and it has donated to Toys for Tykes and to the shelter for domestic violence in Darke County.
The Aktion Club reaches out to the community in many ways. They work together to improve their communities through service projects in Darke County; fundraisers; partnership on projects with Key Club/Kiwanis of Greenville; volunteer opportunities with local organizations; and international service initiatives.
Aktion’s mission is to provide adults with disabilities an opportunity to develop initiative, leadership skills and to serve their communities; and their motto is: “Development Without Disabilities.”
Members’ objectives are to develop initiative and leadership; to provide experience in living and working together; to serve the community; and to prepare for useful citizenship.
Officers of the Aktion Club are Ruby Sacher, president; Maria Pieper, vice president; Sam Ploch, secretary; and Darlene Bowers, treasurer.
“The community has embraced us in all of our projects and endeavors,” Huston said. “We volunteer a lot, not only as a club. We invite the community to contact us if they want to partner with us.”
Huston can be reached at 937-459-4629 or at [email protected] and Pressly at 937-459-4627 or at [email protected].
This writer may be reached at 937-569-4315. Follow her on Facebook and join the conversation and get updates on Facebook by searching Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com.
