Kiwanis members serve their communities all year long, but the excitement for service really builds in April each year. Kiwanis members come together for Kiwanis One Day, a day of community service that is felt around the world. This year, One Day in Aurora will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 13.
The One-Day objective is to unite volunteers to participate on the same day in a hands-on service project to better the community. At the last clean-up event in 2018, there were more than 400 volunteers who helped remove trash from in and around the Fox River, north and south of downtown Aurora. The goal for the Fox River and nearby Fox Valley Park District locations this year is to have many dedicated volunteers come together to make an impact on the community.
Park sites include:
• South Island Park, Ashland Avenue, and Route 25, Aurora;
• North Aurora Island Park, State Street Bridge, North Aurora;
• Spring Lake Park, McCoy Drive, just east of Frontenac, Aurora.
The project’s goal is to meet or exceed the 400+ volunteers who participated in 2018.
Kiwanis will be a partner with Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, city government of Aurora, Aurora Township, Fox Valley Park District, Aurora University, Waubonsee Community College, new partner Friends of the Fox River, and other agencies in conducting what they want to be another successful cleanup event.
Chairman for this community-wide event is Pat Divine, a member of the Aurora Kiwanis Club and human resources coordinator for Fox Metro. He said, “This community-wide event is perfect for schools, colleges, churches, youth groups, families, and individuals. So please do come and join this great day of environmental clean-up in our City.”
Volunteers are required to sign a liability waiver; youth under 18 must have a parent or guardian-signed waiver. Adolescent groups are required to provide one adult supervisor for every 10 children.
Portions of the Fox River from Ashland Avenue to the Fox Valley Park District’s Cole Center on Illinois Avenue, including various Fox Valley Park District park locations, will be the target area this year. Headquarters will be at the Cole Center, 101 W. Illinois Avenue.
After check-in, breakfast snacks will be available. Transportation to and from the various work areas will be provided. An appreciation lunch will conclude the event back at headquarters. Please bring proper attire and dress for changing weather conditions.
Please contact Pat Divine at 630-301-6817 or pdivine@foxmetro.org, or, Debbie Smith at 630-966-4555 or dsmith@fvpd.net. For more details and a liability waiver visit KiwanisOneDay.org.
Founded September 9, 1916, the Aurora club was the first club in the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District and the 21st club chartered in the world. The club has 99 members. It is the sponsor of Kiwanis clubs in both Oswego and Yorkville.
—Kiwanis Club of Aurora
—Fox Valley Park District