KIWANIS PEDIATRIC TRAUMA UNIT
To prevent these types of injuries in children, and to increase the odds of
survival for those who are traumatically injured, the Kiwanis Club of South
Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Kiwanis District -- have joined in
partnership to create the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute (KPTI), for
injury research, prevention and outreach education. KPTI, located at The Children's
Hospital, draws on the expertise found at Children's, the only hospital in the
Rocky Mountain region solely dedicated to the care of children. KPTI reaches
out to educated medical professionals, families and communities throughout
Colorado, Wyoming and western Nebraska. KPTI is Dedicated to:
THE KIWANIS CLUB OF SOUTH DENVER IS PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT. For more
information on the Kiwanis Trauma Unit go to: http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/wellness/safety/kpti/index.aspx.
Other Links
IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDER (IDD)
This is a devastating condition which causes lowered IQ in children and decreased
productivity depression and goiter in adults. More than one billion people in the
world's poorest countries are at risk. In the 1990's Kiwanis contributed some
seventy five million dollars to promote the only practical means of preventing, IDD,
the use of iodized salt. The result of this effort has been striking. Through
UNICEF, these funds have provided extensive educational programs and salt iodization
facilities in most of the poor countries. However, the problem remains at the final
step, which is to convince the people to use iodized salt instead of their traditional
rock salt. In Cambodia, for instance, iodized salt is readily available in the
markets, but only about one-third of families use it. Goiters are still very
common and, undoubtedly, many babies are born with irreversible reduction in their
IQ's. Ultimately, the solution to the problem will have to come from the efforts
of UNICEF and government, particularly by mandating the sale of iodized salt, only.
There are surprisingly numerous obstacles to this goal and it may take many more
years to achieve.
In the meantime, our South Denver Kiwanis Club has attempted to make local improvements in the use of iodized salt in places where the opportunity is presented. We were able to gain the cooperation of a large public school in Phnom Penh called Toul Kok Elementary. We raised $500.00 (US) and used it to purchase 2,500 kg of iodized salt from a Cambodian supplier. We then provided 2 kg to each of the 1000 students in 6th grade. We were told that 1 kg would last an average family a year. The children were asked to keep 1 kg of salt and give the second 1kg to a neighbor. The salt was bought in bulk and then transferred by volunteer students into 1 kg zip-lock bags. On the bags, we printed, in the Khmer language, a message addressing the students and teachers and at the same time we were able to tell them about Kiwanis. The teachers have even expressed an interest in helping to form Cambodia's first Kiwanis Club! This was a delightful experience. We were very warmly received and we would encourage others to consider similar projects, not only in Cambodia, but in any other poor countries at risk of IDD. We were able to provide the salt and the custom printed zip-lock bags for twenty cents per kilogram. In addition to schools, one could also target churches or any other institutions where one obtained the cooperation of the administration. We hope that these small local projects will impress on children the importance of using only iodized salt.
Contact Keith McDonald for more information concerning this activity.
Links:
The Salt Of The Earth Project www.saltoftheearth.biz
Other Links
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Kids Against Hunger is a non profit organization whose mission is to provide fully nutritious food to impoverished children around the world. There are 42 Satellite Feeding Stations all across North America. South Denver Kiwanis -Kids Against Hunger is the only Satellite Feeding Station for "Kids Against Hunger" in Colorado. We buy food (rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and vitamins) in bulk and have volunteers repack the food into 6 serving packages. Each 6 serving bag can be prepared in less than 20 minutes by adding it to boiling water. These highly nutritious meals are designed to reverse the starvation process in children. The best part is the meals only cost $0.25 each.
South Denver Kiwanis - Kids Against Hunger collects donations, purchase the food and gets volunteers to package the food. We then give the food free of charge to hungry children.. 20% of these meals are delivered to local food banks. We ship the balance to feed starving children all over the world. This year we have shipped over 50,000 meals to Haiti, Africa and Viet Nam. Our goal is to pack and ship 250,000 meals in 2009. We have held packaging events at Mile High Academy, South High School, Cherry Creek High School, Mountain Vista High School and May 9 will be at Arapahoe High School.
South Denver Kiwanis - Kids Against Hunger is sponsoring our biggest packaging event to date this Memorial Day May 25 from 8:00 to 5:00 when we plan to package 100,000 meals in one day. In order to accomplish that goal we need 800 volunteers and need to raise $25,000 in contributions.
South Denver Kiwanis - Kids Against Hunger is an all volunteer organization and a 501c-3 non profit so contributions are tax deductible. We have no overhead so every dollar we collect goes to the purchase of meals.
Checks can be made out to:
South Denver Kiwanis Foundation
Send to PO Box 101405, Denver, CO 80250-1405
For additional information, contact Ken Bradley at KenwardBradley@comcast.net or Pat Pogue at Pat.Pogue@comcast.net
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Weekly Luncheon Program: An informative speaker makes a presentation at each
of the weekly noon luncheon meetings. These speakers are informative while
motivating one to think more about the given subject.
Salvation Army: Each Christmas our members volunteer their time to ring the bells to collect money for this organization.
Volunteer Hours: Club members volunteer approximately 500 service hours per month to non-profit agencies.
Social Events: The Club hosts various social events during the year varying from University of Denver Hockey games, picnics, and golf tournaments to a more formal officer installation dinner.
Head Start: Reading to the children and providing clothes and toys during the holidays. This includes over 100 kids.
Good Citizenship Awards: Periodically we recognize at our noon luncheons elementary students who have demonstrated to their teachers and peers that they are good citizens and are role models to be followed.
Hugh O'Brien Youth Program (HOBY): We support this program which entails a yearly leadership conference of outstanding sophmores from all Colorado High Schools.
Scholarships: Through our Club and our Club's Foundation we award scholarships to high school and college students to further their educations.
