Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor | Kiwanis starts new service club for adults with disabilities

Members of Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor and volunteers from several community organizations are introducing a new club for adults with disabilities in the Gig Harbor area. It’s called AKtion Club, and it is a community service club for adults with developmental disabilities

The purpose of AKtion Club is to enable service-minded people to volunteer in projects that benefit the community. Its goal is to provide ways for people with developmental disabilities to achieve greater involvement in their communities, to socialize with one another, and take a leadership role in providing community service. AKtion Club is the only international service club for adults with developmental disabilities, with more than 12,000 members worldwide.  While there are other AKtion Clubs in the Puget Sound area, this will be the first in Gig Harbor.

The first meeting will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 24 at the Peninsula High School Commons area.  Interested parties will have a chance to learn more about the club and sign up to be a member.  Initially, AKtion Club will meet monthly, but as interest and participation grows, meetings may be held more frequently.  A few other details will be worked out after the first meeting, after organizers have had a chance to hear ideas from participants and their caregivers.

Participants who need personal care support must be accompanied by a caregiver during the meeting.  Each participant is responsible for their own transportation to and from meetings. There is handicapped parking located near the outside entrance to the Peninsula High School Commons Area.

For more information about AKtion Club, go to www.gigharborkiwanis.org, and click on AKtion Club at the top of the page.  You will find a link to register for membership and a link to request one of our AKtion Club ambassadors to contact you with further information or to answer questions.  There is also a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.

Community organizations joining the Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor to support the Gig Harbor Kiwanis AKtion Club include the Community Transitions and Special Education Programs at Peninsula School District, The PenMet Parks Specialized Adaptive & Inclusion Programs, and the YMCA of Peninsula and Kitsap Counties.

If you know someone with a disability that might be interested, or someone you know is a caregiver for a person with disabilities, please let them know about this new opportunity for community involvement.

Tina Shoemaker

President-elect, Gig Harbor Kiwanis

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