Mental Health Partners of Hancock County

Kim Hall, Director of Mental Health Partners of Hancock County with Julie Dishman, Kiwanis President

Kim Hall, Director of Mental Health Partners of Hancock County spoke to Kiwanis about her organization and it's activities. 
The Mental Health Partners (MHP) provides counseling, navigation backpacks, acts as a advocate navigators to those needing resources, hosts groups for suicide survivors, help those addicted in a recovery house, and provides a gift lift for nursing home residents who may not otherwise receive a  Christmas gift.
MHP can use your support by donating items for navigation backpacks and personal care boxes.  Items needed include toothpaste, combs/brushes, deodorant, soap/body wash, shampoo and conditioner,  hand lotion, chap stick, Kleenex, razors, shaving cream, wash clothes, toilet paper, feminine products, puzzle books, paper, notebooks, pencils, pen, cards, hats and gloves, flashlights and batteries, laundry soap, dryer sheets, and dish soap.
MHP also hosts the Pennsy Trail Art Fair and Music Festival which is July 25, 2020 as a fundraising event.  You can direct questions or contributions to their office is located in the Memorial Building , 98 East North Street, or call 317.462.2877.  The website is mentalhealthpartnershc.com.  They are also listed on Facebook. 

Regreening Greenfield

Al and Sally Parson of Regreening Greenfield

Sally Parsons spoke to Greenfield Kiwanis about the history and purpose of Regreening of Greenfield.  Regreening attempts to keep the tree canopy of the City of Greenfield attractive, healthy and growing by planting, trimming, watering, and mulching trees in the tree plots of the city.  In addition they distribute free trees and planting advice.

Regreening was established during Mayor Keith McClarnon's administration with the leadership of  Marciann McClarnon and her classroom students.  Since then thousands of trees have been inventoried, planted, pruned and watered in the city.  Sally noted that trees are a part of the city infrastructure providing not only beauty but erosion control and storm water retention.

Sally noted that in addition to the Emerald Ash borer which is devastating ash trees and their relatives there are three new threats to trees:

1. The Asian longhorn beetle which damages maple family trees, birches, Ohio buckeyes, elms and horse chestnut.
2. Spotted Lantern fly which damages trees when they feed sucking sap from stems and branches.
3. Thousand cankers disease which attacks the Walnut family,

Google these to see pictures for identification,  If you suspect you see them report them to Purdue at ReportINvasive.com.

She also noted that many trees die as a result of volcano mulching which enourages moisture around the base of the tree above the root line.

Regreening needs volunteers to help them with their work.  Adults and high school age students can find volunteer opportunities at their Facebook page.  They also need funds to help them with a matching grant they received to inventory trees.
Click here to go to the Regreening Page

Greenfield-Central School Foundation

Ginny Brown of the Greenfield-Central School Foundation spoke to Kiwanis about the Foundation and it's programs.   The Foundation was started in 1988 as the Set A Good Example Foundation.  It became Greenfield-Central School Foundation in 2012.   The Foundation became GCSF after recognizing both the need and the opportunity to provide stronger financial support to the school corporation as a whole.

The programs include Enrichment Grants which fund programs like "Girls on the Run", an intermediate school program that helps to empower young women. 

Other programs include

• Wish Upon a Star

• Partners In Education (PIE)

• Educational Enrichment (E2) Grants

• G-C Alumni Hall of Fame

• Awards and Recognition

• Star Power

Some of the grants funds programs such as:

• Archeology Club

• Vex Robotics

• Purchasing books for a classroom library

• Project Arrow, where High School mentors help Junior High students.  Participation in this program increase the likelihood of  participants graduating by 70 percent.

• STEM nights

• Literacy Nights

• Kindergarten 101 for students who did not attend pre-school before Kindergarten.

The major fund-raising event is the Red Letter Gala.   For more information on donating or about the Foundation or it's programs see https://www.gcschoolfoundation.org/
 

Kiwanis Family Love activity

This event is for all members and their guests/parents of Kiwanis, Circle K, Key Club, Builders Club, K-Kids, and Golden K. 
Kiwanis Murder Mystery at Conner Prairie, Saturday, January 25. RSVP:INCKI.ORG/KFL2020
or RSVP:https://events.eventzilla.net/e/kiwanis-family-love-2020-21…

Mason Miller, Yo You Club

Mason Miller with his Kiwanan grandmother Sandy Miller.

Mason Miller, 11 year old student at Maxwell Intermediate School, amazed the Kiwanis club with his Yo Yo skills on Tuesday.  Mason is a member of K-Kids, Student Council and the Hancock County Children's Choir.   He is also the founder of the Yo Yo Club.

Mason became interested in Yo Yo's when he was playing Trivial Pursuit and a question about Yo Yo tricks got hiom interested in the sport.  Mason is self taught on the 17 Yo Yo's he owns.  He watches the tricks and techniques on You Tube and then practices.  His skills amazed the club members as he "walked the dog" and performed "the Eiffel Tower."
The YoYo Club was started in December with 9 members at the first meeting.  Mason had obtained 15 Basic Yo Yo's from the Yo Yo Factory, a manufacturer who wants to promote the sport. The next club meeting will be February 1 at 11:30 am at Hometown Comics,

Bill Reddish

Please keep Carol and the Reddish family in your thoughts and prayers.





Click here to read the obituary for Bill Reddish