The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene takes part in a variety of community service activities throughout Kootenai County. Here’s a list of some of the regular areas where our members generously share their time and talents.
Meals on Wheels
Each week, our Club’s volunteers team up with the Lake City Center Meals on Wheels program to bring nutritious meals to at-risk seniors in our community. Beyond providing immediate nutritional support, this program offers lasting social connections, helping to build a healthier, more connected community for those who are often isolated and in need.
Head Start Reading
Our club partners with Reading Is Fundamental (Scholastic) to support a monthly reading program for Coeur d’Alene Head Start preschool students. One or two Kiwanis members visit each month to read to three classrooms of approximately 17–20 children, creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for early learning.
Each featured book is donated both to the classroom library and for students to take home, helping build early literacy skills, strengthen family engagement, and foster a lifelong love of reading. By placing books directly into the hands of young learners, the program supports school readiness and helps ensure that children in our community begin their educational journey with confidence.
Beyond the classroom, this effort reflects our club’s ongoing commitment to serving the children of our community and investing in their future success. We also look forward to expanding the program to include participation from the SNR Aktion Club in future reading events.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Each year, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene proudly participates in the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. For one full day, our members volunteer their time to ring bells and greet holiday shoppers, helping raise critical funds that support families in need throughout our community.
The dollars collected during this single day of service help provide food assistance, emergency housing support, youth programs, and other essential services in the Coeur d’Alene area. While it may seem like a small commitment of time, the impact is significant. This annual tradition reflects our club’s belief that even one day of focused effort can make a meaningful difference in the lives of local children and families.
Math Counts
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene supports the annual MathCounts competition held at North Idaho College, an exciting academic event that challenges middle school students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a competitive setting. Our members serve as test monitors and graders, helping ensure the event runs smoothly and fairly for all participants.
In addition to volunteering, the club provides financial support to help make the event possible. MathCounts fosters confidence, perseverance, and a love of mathematics in young people—skills that will serve them throughout their educational journeys and future careers. By supporting this program, Kiwanis invests directly in the intellectual growth and potential of North Idaho’s youth.
Second Harvest
Several times each year, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene partners with Second Harvest to sponsor and serve at public food distribution events. During these events, a food truck arrives loaded with fresh produce and grocery staples, which are distributed directly to families in need.
Our club not only provides financial sponsorship for these distributions but also supplies volunteers who assist with setup, organization, and hands-on food distribution. These events serve hundreds of individuals at a time and address a very real need in our community. By supporting food security initiatives, Kiwanis helps ensure that local children and families have access to nutritious meals and basic necessities.
TESH Fun Run
Each New Year’s morning, Kiwanis members rise early to support the annual TESH Fun Run—formerly known as the “Hangover Handicap.” This community tradition brings runners together for a healthy and energetic start to the year while raising support for TESH’s mission of serving individuals with disabilities.
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene provides financial sponsorship for the event and supplies volunteers who staff course stations to ensure runners stay safely on route. Our participation reflects our commitment to inclusion, community wellness, and supporting organizations that serve some of our most vulnerable neighbors. It’s a meaningful way to begin the year—with service, purpose, and community spirit.
Wreaths Across America
Unloading Wreaths before the Ceremony
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene began hosting the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens in 2017. Since then, we’ve continued to organize, fundraise for, and sponsor the event each year. Wreaths Across America is a national organization that honors fallen veterans at Christmastime every year by placing wreaths on their graves.
The program began in 1992 with 5,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. Today, ceremonies are held simultaneously at over 3,900 locations, with more than 2.5 million wreaths placed to date. Our club lays about 900 wreaths on veterans’ graves in a solemn ceremony of remembrance and gratitude for their service to our country.
Volunteering
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene takes part in a variety of community service activities throughout Kootenai County. Here’s a list of some of the regular areas where our members generously share their time and talents.
Meals on Wheels
Each week, our Club’s volunteers team up with the Lake City Center Meals on Wheels program to bring nutritious meals to at-risk seniors in our community. Beyond providing immediate nutritional support, this program offers lasting social connections, helping to build a healthier, more connected community for those who are often isolated and in need.
Head Start Reading
Our club partners with Reading Is Fundamental (Scholastic) to support a monthly reading program for Coeur d’Alene Head Start preschool students. One or two Kiwanis members visit each month to read to three classrooms of approximately 17–20 children, creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for early learning.
Each featured book is donated both to the classroom library and for students to take home, helping build early literacy skills, strengthen family engagement, and foster a lifelong love of reading. By placing books directly into the hands of young learners, the program supports school readiness and helps ensure that children in our community begin their educational journey with confidence.
Beyond the classroom, this effort reflects our club’s ongoing commitment to serving the children of our community and investing in their future success. We also look forward to expanding the program to include participation from the SNR Aktion Club in future reading events.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Each year, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene proudly participates in the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. For one full day, our members volunteer their time to ring bells and greet holiday shoppers, helping raise critical funds that support families in need throughout our community.
The dollars collected during this single day of service help provide food assistance, emergency housing support, youth programs, and other essential services in the Coeur d’Alene area. While it may seem like a small commitment of time, the impact is significant. This annual tradition reflects our club’s belief that even one day of focused effort can make a meaningful difference in the lives of local children and families.
Math Counts
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene supports the annual MathCounts competition held at North Idaho College, an exciting academic event that challenges middle school students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a competitive setting. Our members serve as test monitors and graders, helping ensure the event runs smoothly and fairly for all participants.
In addition to volunteering, the club provides financial support to help make the event possible. MathCounts fosters confidence, perseverance, and a love of mathematics in young people—skills that will serve them throughout their educational journeys and future careers. By supporting this program, Kiwanis invests directly in the intellectual growth and potential of North Idaho’s youth.
Second Harvest
Several times each year, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene partners with Second Harvest to sponsor and serve at public food distribution events. During these events, a food truck arrives loaded with fresh produce and grocery staples, which are distributed directly to families in need.
Our club not only provides financial sponsorship for these distributions but also supplies volunteers who assist with setup, organization, and hands-on food distribution. These events serve hundreds of individuals at a time and address a very real need in our community. By supporting food security initiatives, Kiwanis helps ensure that local children and families have access to nutritious meals and basic necessities.
TESH Fun Run
Each New Year’s morning, Kiwanis members rise early to support the annual TESH Fun Run—formerly known as the “Hangover Handicap.” This community tradition brings runners together for a healthy and energetic start to the year while raising support for TESH’s mission of serving individuals with disabilities.
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene provides financial sponsorship for the event and supplies volunteers who staff course stations to ensure runners stay safely on route. Our participation reflects our commitment to inclusion, community wellness, and supporting organizations that serve some of our most vulnerable neighbors. It’s a meaningful way to begin the year—with service, purpose, and community spirit.
Wreaths Across America
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene began hosting the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens in 2017. Since then, we’ve continued to organize, fundraise for, and sponsor the event each year. Wreaths Across America is a national organization that honors fallen veterans at Christmastime every year by placing wreaths on their graves.
The program began in 1992 with 5,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. Today, ceremonies are held simultaneously at over 3,900 locations, with more than 2.5 million wreaths placed to date. Our club lays about 900 wreaths on veterans’ graves in a solemn ceremony of remembrance and gratitude for their service to our country.