Approximately 400 people came to the Kiwanis Club of Arnold’s eighth annual Giving and Light Fair on Dec. 8 at the Fox C-6 Service Center in Arnold.
The free event featured photos with Santa Claus, giveaways and activities for children, St. Louis Cardinals’ mascot Fredbird, members of Heroes for Kids, a nonprofit organization based in Perryville whose members dress up as superheroes, and a silent auction.
Lacie Dalton, 3, shows off the new bike she won at the 2024 Arnold Kiwanis Giving and Light Fair.
“The kids seemed to enjoy all of it,” Kiwanis member Carole Yount said. “They liked visiting with Santa. They liked seeing Fredbird. The superheroes came in a little late, and that was great because it gave them another great thing during the event.”
Those who came were asked to donate either toys or non-perishable food items. Yount said there were about 12 boxes filled with donations, which were given to the Salvation Army of Jefferson County.
“We had quite a bit to donate,” she said. “We felt pretty good about that.”
The group awarded 25 Chromebooks and six bicycles to 31 raffle winners.
“We were very excited to be able to give away the bikes, and the Chromebooks always go over well,” Yount said.
Carole Yount calls out winning numbers for a bike raffle. She is helped by Seckman High School Key Club members Erin Faulker, 16, left, and Tavia Wetherell, 16.
Members of the Missouri Freemasons registered children for the Missouri Child Identification Program (MoCHIP). The group also brought service dogs to the event for children to take pictures with.
“A good group participated in the (MoCHIP) program, and each year, they register more children,” Yount said.
Yount said the four-hour event was successful thanks to the various volunteers from groups other than the Kiwanis, which she said has about 15 active members.
Rockport Heights Elementary School staff members gave away socks, and Lone Dell Elementary School staff members gave away hats and gloves to children who need those items.
Yount said Clyde Hamrick and Guffey elementary schools staff members also handed out items, such as notebooks, during the event and a teacher from Ridgewood Middle School donated cookies.
She also said the Kiwanis club had 200 dental kits donated by Delta Dental that it gave away.
“If we didn’t have people who would come up and spend four hours helping us, we couldn’t do what we do,” Yount said.
From left, Dean Harwood, 8, Ben Lenz, 8, and Vera Harwood, 8, of Imperial play a game of bingo.
Yount said she was very happy that about 20 members of Fox and Seckman high schools’ Key Clubs volunteered to help with the event.
“I think having Key Club members there is very good for the community because they are growing up serving others,” she said. “If we can keep them involved in serving younger kids that is a good thing.”
Yount said she felt the Giving and Light Fair was successful.
“We always feel like it is successful if we get kids there who enjoy it, and the parents feel it is successful,” she said. “As long as people keep coming, we will keep doing it.”