For a second straight year, approximately 400 people attended the Arnold Kiwanis Club’s annual Giving and Light Fair, Kiwanis member Carole Yount said.
The fair was held Dec. 7 at the Fox C-6 Service Center in Arnold and featured photos with Santa Claus, giveaways and activities for children, an appearance by St. Louis Cardinals’ mascot Fredbird, the Missouri Freemasons registering children for the Missouri Child Identification Program (MoCHIP) and a silent auction.
The Kiwanis also held raffles for Chromebooks, bicycles and attendance prizes.
The club has held the free event for nine years.
“Our attendance has not been as good as we have hoped, but we made about 30 kids really happy yesterday with the Chromebooks, bicycles and attendance prizes,” Yount said. “We think it was a success, even though the attendance was low. We will continue to do this because we know the kids are excited to be there.”
Yount said the club donated money to the Arnold Police Officers Association, the Brenden’s Friday Backpacks organization, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army and Camp Wyman.
She said the club donated about $5,000 total, and the Kiwanis collected nonperishable food items to donate to the Gateway Food Pantry in Arnold.
Yount said about 100 children had their pictures taken with Santa Claus.
Dan Easton, a former Fox C-6 School District teacher, played the part of Santa, and his family provided free pictures with Santa.
Staff members from numerous Fox C-6 School District elementary schools were at the fair, giving away items such as hats, gloves, coats and books.
The district staff members also set up various games for children to play and collect prizes during the event.
“We had fidget watches that light up that were a big hit for the kids who played bingo,” Yount said.
Members of Fox and Seckman high schools’ Key Clubs volunteered to help with the event. The students assisted children with coloring projects, writing letters to Santa, creating slime and other activities.
“It is great to see those high school kids come in and help with the younger kids,” Yount said. “In April and May, we will take applications for scholarships for high school seniors. That will be another opportunity for us to give back to the community.”
Yount said she didn’t know how many children the Freemasons registered for MoCHIP, which provides parents with essential identification data for their children to aid law enforcement if they go missing.
The identification data includes photos, fingerprints, dental info and DNA.
“They are excited to come every year,” Yount said of the Freemasons. “Every year, they say they enroll more kids. We will keep inviting them.”
Yount said a highlight of the fair was when Fredbird arrived.
“The kids don’t get to see Fredbird very often,” she said. “Having him there was a big treat for the kids.
“He comes in about 3 p.m. every year, and I think the kids get as excited about Fredbird as they do Santa.”
The Kiwanis Club has two meetings a month, a lunch meeting at noon on the second Tuesday of each month at the Wesley Roger’s Steak and Buffet, 3601 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold, and the other at 8 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday in the basement of Arnold City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd.
For information about joining, call Yount at 314-401-2669 or email her at younthome@yahoo.com.