Caldwell Students Learn To ‘Build Character’ While Helping Community

WEST CALDWELL, NJ — Students in the Caldwell-West Caldwell elementary schools know a thing or two about building character and helping the community thanks to K-Kids, an international organization that works locally in concert with the Kiwanis Club of Caldwell-West Essex.

The students in K-Kids - a program of Kiwanis International, which provides members with opportunities to “perform service, build character and develop leadership” – have already engaged in several service projects this autumn, school administrators said.

• Jefferson Elementary School K-Kids recently collected over four hundred dollars for UNICEF. They also held a Spirit Week for the families affected by the recent fire in Caldwell. The Spirit Week raised funds through theme days on which students donated funds while participating in a variety of school spirit activities.
• Wilson Elementary School K-Kids collected donations to benefit the Elimination Fund, which is committed to eliminating childhood diseases by providing vaccines to children and mothers in need. In November, the club plans to hold a Caldwell Food Pantry food drive, collecting cereal, peanut butter and jelly, pasta, lunch snacks, and canned fruit and vegetables to help struggling local families. In March the Wilson K-Kids plan to hold their annual 3-on-3 fourth and fifth grade basketball tournament to benefit a local charity.
• Lincoln Elementary School K-Kids collected for UNICEF, marking the third year in a row that they have contributed hundreds of dollars to the organization. Lincoln School also assists JCHS Football Coach Ken Trimmer by taking part in his toy drive for St. Rocco’s Family Shelter in Newark.

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