The East Orange area is gaining another new neighbor, so to speak, this summer with its very own Kiwanis club. Aimed at helping local children, Kiwanis clubs continually raise more than $100 million every year and sponsor nearly 150,000 service projects throughout 96 countries to help their local community. The East Orange club recently submitted to be a chartered club on May 1, 2009 and expects to be accepted sometime in June with a charter ceremony in early July.

“I felt there was a need to bring Kiwanis into our community,” says Dave Schmitt, president of Dave Schmitt Engineering and founder of the East Orange County Chapter of Kiwanis International. “We have already been active through the East Orange club, but this brings it more focused on the Avalon area and more convenient for many more people to join.”

Currently 30 members strong, Schmitt realizes the importance and attitude of the club and its members. “We have been able to get a lot of enthusiasm and people are committed to East Orlando - particularly the Avalon, Eastwood and Waterford Lakes areas,” he says. “They want to make a huge difference.”

To get involved in one of the many community oriented projects, interested parties are invited to join the club and volunteer for one of the committees. “The more people we have, the more hands we have to service and make a difference for one child, one community at a time,” says Schmitt. Meetings are held monthly to attract the most amount of people and everyone is welcome to join the club.

At the end of the day or project or meeting, Schmitt says he always wants the members of the East Orange Kiwanis club to have gained more than they have put in. “As they say, what you put in, you really take 10 times much more back with you,” he says. “Sometimes our projects are a lot of work, but the experience of making a difference in a less fortunate person’s life is far more rewarding. Kiwanians truly make a difference and our members will definitely feel good about being part of something so wonderful.”

To learn more to to join the East Orange Kiwanis Club contact Dave Schmitt at 407-207-9088 or e-mail him at dave.schmitt@dseorl.com.

Article by Corey Gehrold