By BRIAN CHARLTON
For The State News
Lansing - A smile of relief appeared on 7-year-old Nashville resident Brandon Wilson’s face as he sat down to eat a warm home-cooked meal in the dining area of the Ronald McDonald House in Lansing.
The meal of sloppy Joes, french fries, pudding and corn was prepared Feb. 28 by members of the MSU community service group Circle K International for Brandon and other families staying at the house.
“The purpose of the house is to provide lodging for families with ill family members receiving treatment at the (Sparrow) hospital,” said Rebecca Reagan, public relations chairwoman for the house. “Once a month, the club cooks dinner as a donation.”
The student-led organization focuses on developing leadership through service projects, specializing in service for children.
Members arrived an hour before serving time and prepared the meal using supplies they purchased with club funds.
Not all four families residing at the house were in attendance for a sit-down dinner, but found the food waiting for them when they returned from the hospital.
Members said they not only enjoy working in the community at places such as Ronald McDonald House, but also use events as social occasions.
“It’s one of the most friendly groups on campus,” German senior Kim Mueller said. “It is open to anyone who is willing to help and give back to the community.”
Circle K International is the world’s largest community service and leadership organization on college campuses, with 11,000 members located on 525 campuses.
Kiwanis International boasts 315,000 members in 8,500 different clubs located in 82 countries.
“It provides a lot of networking to influential people in society,” Mueller said. “People recognize the name Kiwanis everywhere.”
The MSU group has about 20 active members who also serve dinner once a month at the Lansing City Rescue Mission soup kitchen or volunteer for the American Red Cross by sorting donated food.
The organization also has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lansing Inc. and Boys & Girls Club of Lansing in past semesters.
Lorie Inman, an education graduate student who teaches at Fulton High School in Middleton, said she has been a member for seven years and also was involved during high school.
“Most of my friends are in the group,” she said. “It’s something to take me away from grading papers and ninth-graders.”
President Beth Laba said the main focus is community service in the Lansing area, but members also look forward to meeting other colleges’ Circle K groups.
“We also offer the opportunity to attend our district and international conventions,” the human resource junior said.
The group will travel March 22 to Ferris State University to participate in the district convention where awards for service are presented. This year’s 1980s theme is “Ferris Bueller’s Weekend of Service.”
“I think we are going to Goodwill beforehand to get some good 80s gear,” Laba said.
The group will also travel to Orlando, Fla., later this year for Circle K’s international convention.
For more information and membership applications, visit www.msu.edu/~cki.
