Christmas with Kiwanis Club

Today I got to stand in for a shift as pretzel-maker-person as Kiwanis Club of Middletown participated in Middlesex Chamber of Commerce’s annual weekends on Main Street where various holiday themed events are sponsored by the Chamber and local businesses and other organizations. (Left Kiwanis member Phil Cacciola chats with Santa. Looks like a very serious conversation.)
Kiwanis Club took up selling popcorn and hot pretzels in front of the Chamber from 10:30 am until 2:30 pm today. The Middletown Spartans Football Club, a semi pro league which is part of the New England Football League ( N.E.F.L.) gave out free hot chocolate and coffee also in front of the Chamber. The team is coached by local Jim Greco, and is made up of players ages 18-49 with and without prior football experience. The team is also seeking a variety of volunteer positions.
Near by on Main Street families bustled up and down the sidewalk enjoying free horse drawn hayrides sponsored by Liberty Bank, talks with Santa and Clifford the Big Red Dog outside of Holy Trinity Church, and rides on a motorized miniature train.
Kiwanis second vice president Christopher Holden (left)took care of set up this morning. Shortly after Kiwanis members braved the cold morning; member Tom D’Aquila(right) served popcorn and member Phil Cacciola collected money as I dished out pretzels in assembly line fashion. Through out the morning many other members stopped by to step in. All money collected from the sales goes to the “Holiday On Main Street” Chamber of Commerce fund.
The Kiwanis has a junior organization – Key Club, which is made up of community service minded Middletown High School students. The Key Club’s faculty advisor is Arts Department Director Marco Gaylord. The Key Club has a long standing history of Holiday related charitable activities such as working with the Head Start Program of Middletown.
Kiwanis has been responsible for a variety of other seasonal charitable events including bell ringing with the Salvation Army and the “Warm the Children Campaign” since the club was first chartered in Middletown in 1951. The "Warm the Children Campaign" is a project to provide needy families with warm winter clothing. Bell ringing this year will take place this coming weekend outside of A&P Super Foodmart on Washington Street in Middletown. Details can be found at the Club’s website. Current local chapter president is Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, who leads weekly meetings held in the Salvation Army building at the north end of Middletown.

To reach the Spartans football team email: vgreco64@hotmail.com

Next Weekend Dec. 20, 2008: Kiwanis helps out the Salvation Army's bell ringing fundraising effort at the A&P Super FoodMart on Washington Street. Get your jingle on!

For more information about upcoming events with Middletown Kiwanis drop by their website at: