Students who are looking for an opportunity to connect with community members and practice a leadership role can find it with the Key Club. Key Club is one of the largest international clubs that provides student-led service to help out the community. This club is beneficial for both students and the community because while the students are providing service, they are also gaining new experiences. Students are free to join the club at any time and can get involved with local community organizations.
Key Club is the junior service organization of Kiwanis International and is something that still has such an important impact today. Students are able to help out and provide services for the community to make it a better place to live. This club has many benefits and teaches students things they will use for the rest of their lives.
Mary McDonough, senior president of Key Club, talked about how her connection with the community changed while being a part of the club. She met new people and had a better understanding of how she was helping different members. McDonough has made connections with “people from different organizations and Kiwanis members”.
Key Club provides a lot of services for the community. Some students volunteer at the Stillwater Harvest Fest and the Stillwater Art Festival; they help out by cleaning and making sure there is no garbage in places it is not supposed to be. There are also volunteers for Valley Outreach, which is entirely run by community members and provides food, clothes, and support to those in need.
Club advisor Dusty Dennis talked about how Valley Friendship Club is one of the organizations that benefits off the club the most. Valley Friendship Club is a community group that puts on events for individuals with disabilities. Students who volunteer are appreciated by the organization. “Valley Friendship Club is where we make the biggest difference; they send me emails all the time saying how much they appreciate it,” Dennis said.
The community gains so many benefits from the club as well as the students. Students can get involved with their local community and learn how a simple action can make such a big difference. The club is also seen as a great networking opportunity. Students are able to come together and communicate the best ways they can help out and take on their roles as service providers.
McDonough explained how she takes on her role at Key Club. “We have to prioritize talking to leaders of organizations and making sure they have the volunteers they need,” McDonough said. She has a responsibility to communicate with other students and make sure they are providing the service they offer.
Getting involved with the community is important to students because not only does it teach them the value of giving back, but it also shows them how much of a difference they are making. When students provide services and help out different organizations throughout the community, they are meeting new people and making new connections; those connections alone can make such a difference to communities and their members. This helps students understand that taking time out of their day and helping out with something small can lead to such a big impact.
“When I volunteer at Valley Outreach, I’ve gotten to know the volunteers better. They rely on me, and I feel useful in the community,” Aida Goddard, a junior and member of Key Club, explained how the more she helped out at Valley Outreach, the more she grew an important connection.
Key Club allows students to take on important roles in the community and create a big difference. When students provide services, they are able to build connections, experience new things, and learn the importance of giving back to the community. Community organizations also benefit extremely from Key Club’s help. They are able to grow stronger and more connected with the students. When students join Key Club, it shows how small actions can lead to a lasting and impactful change.
