Tom Graham, Stiory Teller

Julie Dishman, Kiwanis President with Tom Graham

Tom Graham, a former realtor, shared his story telling ability with three stories.  The first was based on the experience of Jay Thomas when he was radio DJ in California and did a remote that involved Clayton Moore, the Lone Ranger.  The second story was of based on the recollections of a friend on the occasion of his visit to a reformatory to deliver Christmas food.  The third was a personal story of how his father won a bet on his racoon hunting dog.
Graham is also the author of a fiction book titled, Steal It Sam. 

2019 Christmas Party and Auction

Marty Crider with Auction Gifts

Kiwanians eating

Marcy Hoffman give Kresha a Christmas present

Pat Kohne won the bid on this unique Christmas decoration

Mayor Pat won a dancing Santa

Santa's House and Elves

 

Dan Riley, helper and Tom Billings, Head of Santa's House

Kiwanis has been staffing the Santa's House since before 2004 when Tom Billings took over as the chairman of the Santa Clause House on the Court House Square.   Tom named many of the Santa's helpers from Kiwanis including Bob Gullion, Jim Polise and Dan Riley.  Other non-Kiwanians have also helped. 

Dan Riley discussed different aspects of the role of Santa's Helper and related personal stories from the past 10 years he has worked.  He also acknowledged elves who assisted that included Tom Billings and members of his family, Pat Kohne, Steve Emmons, Kathy Brackman, and Marilyn Derrickson. 

Tom shared pictures and letters collected over the past 15 years.  Santa's house will open Saturday, Dec 7 from 6-9 p.m.  It will be open 2-5 pm, Dec 8, 14-15 and 21-22.  It is also 6-8:30 pm Dec 13 and 20.  Photos with Santa are $5 with proceeds going to Riley Hospital for Children.

Honor Flight Participant Dave Crider

Molly Crider Belling with Dave Crider

Dave Crider accompanied his father Kieth Crider, a WWII veteran,  on the Inaugural Indy Honor Flight as his guardian,  This fall Molly Crider Belling, Dave's daughter, accompanied Dave, an AIr Force Veteran, on his Honor Flight.

Dave said the process began with an application and interview for both him and Molly.  They were notified he had been selected.  Dave and Molly shared pictures of their trip which started early in the morning in Plainfield Indiana where they were bused to the Airport for a trip to Washington. D.C.  They traveled in buses with police escort to visit the War memorials on the Mall and Arlington National Cemetery.   Dave endorsed the program and encouraged any veterans to consider it .  For more information on the Honor Flights go to https://indyhonorflight.org/

K-Fids Food Drive

Greenfield-Intermediate School food collection.

 

K-kids Food Drive picked up at Maxwell and Greenfield Intermediate Schools. Dan Riley loading the last box of K Kids donated food heading to the Food Pantry. 4 truckloads loaded by Dan Riley, Phil Hayes, Mitch Carl, Steve Burt, Don Hoffman, and Scott Kleine.

Riley Childrens Hospital

Amber Miller of the Riley Children's Foundation told Kiwanis about her experience as a Riley mom and about the Kiwanis partnership with the Hospital,

Amber's daughter, Cassidy, has been a Riley patient three times in the past 19 months,   Cassidy was recently treated at the hospital for croup.  Amber stayed at the hospital and used the Kiwanis Parent Komfort Kart (indkiw.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Parent-Cart-Flyer.pdf).  She noted the cart needs volunteers as well as supplies such as travel size deodorants, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and shampoo.  She noted they are currently out of blankets, fuzzy socks, and chocolate.

The hospital  has a 300 bed capacity and is currently at capacity,  The Newborn Intensive Care Unit  has 60 cribs and is consistently at capacity.

Kiwanis raised money for Riley before the hospital opened in 1924, and has been supporting it ever since.   The result is the hospital's K-Wing, Kiwanis Courtyard, Helipad, Helicopter, Elevator, Torch, Red Wagon Corral, Mobile Intensive Care Unit, and the Komfort Cart.

The Hospital and Foundation are currently engaged in a fundraising campaign to raise $175 million by 2020.  This will fund Pediatric Research and Care, Maternity and New Born Health, and Family Support Programs.
For more infiormation see rileykids.org/bethehopenow/#maternity-and-newborn-health.
For more information on Kiwanis and Riley see indkiw.org/news/riley-hospital-for-children/

Health Education

Linda Garrity, Community Education Coordinator for Hancock Health spoke to Kiwanis. Linda is a graduate of Mount Vernon High School and IU. She has worked for Hancock Health for 9 years,

Population health is a term used to describe ways to keep the community healthy. One of the programs that attempt to accomplish this is Better Choices, Better Health(R), a six-week program that attempts to help people deal with issues that lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD, and high blood pressure. Teaching people what they can do to make themselves better through setting goals, creating action plans and accountability reporting.

Another program, Know Your Numbers, helps community people be aware of their Cholesterol, Diabetes, and Blood pressure numbers from on the spot screenings.

Additional programs deal with Addictions, Alzheimer's, Baby Bump Club, COPD, Breastfeeding, Cancer, Caregiving, Greif, Multiple Sclerosis Parkinson's, Senior Social Wednesdays, Baby Car Seats, Safe Sitter, and Dementia, For more information or to register for a class call 517,468.4383.