This article was submitted by Kris Bielema, Morrison Kiwanis Advisor to the MHS Key Club.
The Morrison High School Key Club is 79 members strong. Key Club International is part of Kiwanis International. The MHS Key Club has been sponsored and diligently supported by the Morrison Kiwanis since 1997.
MHS Key Clubbers are a most remarkable group of kind, generous, and energetic students, whose commitment to community service is often not recognized.
- If a loved one painted a square at Paint The Town, thank MHS Key Club for numbering ALL of those squares.
- If you participated in the Harvest Hammer, thank MHS Key Club for helping set up the high school cafeteria and assisting the Morrison Rotary on registration day.
- If you have enjoyed a pork chop or brat sandwich at the summer Kiwanis Sandwich stand, thank MHS Key Club for serving those.
- If you are a member of the PTO, thank MHS Key Club for watching your child as you attend the PTO meetings at Northside or Southside Schools.
- If you have worked at, or have benefited from, Morrison Friends Food Pantry, thank MHS Key Club for their annual food drive.
Friday, October 31, was one of the coldest Halloween nights on record. Yet that did not deter the MHS Key Club as they collected $1045 for UNICEF!
In the next few weeks, the MHS Key Club is gearing up for the holiday season. They will act as servers at the annual Thanksgiving Feast, scheduled for Friday, November 21. On Saturday, December 6, MHS Key Clubbers will be assisting at the annual Christmas Walk.
For the last 16 years, the MHS Key Club has sponsored a student-led blood drive at the high school. Many former MHS students are now life-long blood donors because of that first-time experience as a student. For the last four years, Key Club has also sponsored a summer blood drive held at Emmanuel Reformed Church. The MHS Key Club earns grant money for sponsoring those blood drives.
Part of the grant money earned for 2014 was recently presented to Betty Jo (Harridge) Schmitt and her son, Walter John. Betty Jo is a former MHS Key Clubber and currently a vital member of the Morrison Kiwanis. Betty Jo’s son was born with a rare syndrome. At 14 months, Walter has already experienced open heart surgery. He is fitted with a hearing device and receives most of his nutrition through a feeding tube. The money donated to Betty Jo and Walter John will purchase a pre-school learning tablet to help Walter develop his language skills.
Shari Elfline and Gwenn Rickertsen are faculty advisors for the MHS Key Club. MHS Key Clubbers are humble, unsung heroes. They serve as a beacon of hope, optimism, kindness, compassion, tolerance, and peace.
Pictured are the officers of the MHS Key Club. Standing left-to-right are Emily Kuehl, Tech Coordinator; Ashley Hagerman; Vice President, MHS graduate Betty Jo Schmitt wwith her son, Walter John; Eryn Young, President. Seated left-to-right are Rachel Magana, Secretary; Colleen Elfline, Treasurer; Ashley Damhoff, Secretary.
