Sister Cities

Abby McKinney, Lyndi Grubb, and Kathy Locke with Sister Cities

Abby McKinney, Lyndi Grubb, and Kathy Locke with Sister Cities spoke to Greenfield Kiwanis about the Sister Cities program that was established nearly 30 years ago between Kakuda, Japan and Greenfield.  The cities are both home to Kehin corporation facilities.  Kehin and the City of Greenfield subsidize the program and the trips.  Greenfield students and their chaperones travel to Japan in June and the Japanese contingent comes to Greenfield in August.  The groups are usually composed of 12 students and 3 chaperones.  The total cost for each person is about $3,000 but due to the generosity of the community businesses and the city governments the cost is reduced to about $850.  Students who are in need of additional reductions can usually receive additional help. 
In 2020 the program will celebrate their 30th year of exchanges.  They hope to commemorate this milestone with a sculpture in the Sister Cities park area near the Pennsy Trail. 
The program needs three things:

1. Families willing to host Japanese guests each August.  If you are willing to host complete the application found at http://www.sistercitiesofgreenfield.org/.
2. The organization hosts an annual 5K race and other fundraising activities.  They need participants in these events.
3. Funds to subsidize the trips and programs.  To contribute go to http://www.sistercitiesofgreenfield.org/.