7-22-2025 4:06am

Local Kiwanis Clubs

Reisterstown Kiwanis Club plans revival to serve local community

The Board of Town Commissioners in Bel Air convened on July 15, 2025, to discuss various community initiatives and organizational updates. The meeting commenced with all commissioners present, including Town Administrator Mr. Hopkins, who participated via phone.

The agenda was approved unanimously, paving the way for a significant presentation by Gary Beck from the Reisterstown Kiwanis Club. Beck, serving as the lieutenant governor for Central Maryland and Delaware, outlined efforts to reestablish a Kiwanis Club in Bel Air. He emphasized the organization's commitment to community service, particularly focusing on children, and highlighted the need for 15 new members to officially form the club.

Beck detailed the structure of Kiwanis and its affiliated youth programs, such as Key Club and Builders Club, which aim to foster leadership and responsibility among young people. He noted the importance of these programs in engaging youth in community service and personal development.

The meeting underscored the town's ongoing efforts to enhance community involvement through service organizations. The reformation of the Kiwanis Club is seen as a vital step in revitalizing local civic engagement, with Beck reporting a promising turnout for upcoming meetings aimed at recruiting new members.

As the meeting progressed, the commissioners acknowledged the potential impact of the Kiwanis Club on local youth and community initiatives. The discussions highlighted a broader commitment to fostering a culture of service and leadership within Bel Air.

In conclusion, the Board of Town Commissioners' work session not only facilitated the approval of the agenda but also set the stage for renewed community engagement through the revitalization of the Kiwanis Club. The next steps will involve continued outreach to recruit members and further discussions on how the club can contribute to the town's social fabric.

The Kiwanis Club of Reisterstown was chartered in August 23, 1935 with 52 charter members many of whom owned or worked for businesses in Reisterstown. Reisterstown was a striving community and these 52 men wanted to serve the youth, the elderly and where ever there was a need in the community.

By 1938 the club was firmly established in the community with a growing membership and a list of service projects that were helping the community. They raised money to help pay for school lunches, they conducted Christmas parties, the first had over 223 children. They sponsored a baseball team in the Kiwanis League. With agriculture being a large part of the community, they purchased several pigs and then donated them to young boys to learn how to raise and sell them. When WWII came, the club created a Honor Roll of Reisterstown men in the service and dedicated it to the community with a band, parade and speeches. Then they organized a scrap iron drive to help the national effort to beat the axis powers.

Then in 1945 they embarked on a project to purchase a new ambulance for the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company. It took three years before they were able to have delivery of the ambulance in 1948. One of the club’s long continuing projects was to build a athletic field for the Franklin High School. It begun construction in 1956 and was dedicated in 1958. It was a community hit and was constantly in use for years. Then in the 1980’s the lights needed to be renewed and the club followed through on that need too.

When Kiwanis established the Key Club program in the early 1980’s, the Reisterstown Club responded in building the Franklin High School Key Club which is still a major club activity with Franklin High School. The club added another Key Club in the Owings Mills High School in 2008. About this time the Builder’s Club was established in the Franklin Middle School giving kids the opportunity to learn leadership, and serving their community.

The Terrific Kids program began in the last 1980’s too and the Reisterstown Kiwanis Club responded and worked to establish this incentive type program in eleven elementary schools in Reisterstown, Owings Mills, Glyndon, Deer Park and Randallstown.

Throughout the history of the Kiwanis Club of Reisterstown, giving to those in need especially at Christmas time was standard event. Purchasing food for a Christmas Dinner and wrapped presents of toys, books and puzzles for several families was a highlight of that season.

Giving and helping others in need has always been the hallmark of this club from its beginning and still is to this day. Our Motto from day one -“We Build” is still how we perform. A more modern description is “Kiwanis is an organization of volunteers dedicate to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.”

What We Do

The Kiwanis Club of Reisterstown and it’s foundation, the Reisterstown Kiwanis Foundation, Inc a 501(c)3 charitable organization, conduct various service projects in our community and beyond. If you are interested in participating in one of these service projects, you can contact our club secretary at reisterstown35kiwanis@gmail.com

Key Club Sponsorships

Key Club is a student lead service oriented program that allows high school age student ways to learn leadership skills, how to work with others and to be a servant leader. The club has a school faculty advisor that works with the club’s Board of Directors insuring that the program is within school guidelines and policies as well as being a mentor to all of the club members. We are currently sponsoring the following Kiwanis Key Clubs:
Franklin High School, Reisterstown, MD
Owings Mills High School, Owings Mills, MD

Builders Club Sponsorship

Builders Club is a student lead service oriented program that allows middle school age student ways to learn leadership skills, how to work with others and to be a servant leader. Our Kiwanis club brings in food and treats and recognizes, supports and encourages the kids, through example, so they feel empowered to do great things in their communities. We support Builders Club service projects, facilitate the Builders Club meetings, provide mentorships. We sponsor the following Kiwanis Builders club:
Franklin Middle School, Reisterstown, MD

Kiwanis Terrific Kids Program

This program allows teachers to have an incentive program for their students other than just grades. Attendance, homework, assisting others in class and much, much more can be used to recognize one or more students each month, each quarter or each year.. We are currently sponsoring the following Kiwanis Terrific Kids clubs:
Deer Park Elementary, Randallstown, MD
Glyndon Elementary School, Reisterstown, MD
New Town Elementary, Owings Mills, MD

Dictionary Project

A printed dictionary becomes a very valuable tool for third graders. Our club provides, at no cost to the student, a 524 page dictionary in 7 seven elementary schools in our local communities. This is not only a dictionary but a world of information about the solar system; detailed information about of our 50 states, the Bill of Rights and our US Constitution, and much, much more. A very valuable book for curious third graders.

Key Club Scholarships

For the past 25 years our club has provided scholarships to graduating seniors from Franklin and Owings Mills High schools. Funds are generated from our various fundraising projects during each year.

Christmas Baskets

Each year we provide enough food for a great Christmas dinner for several families along with 4-5 wrapped Christmas presents for each child in the family. It is a joy to see their smiles when all of this is delivered to their home just prior to Christmas Day.

Safe Sitter Program

Baby sitting is not an easy task for 12-14 years olds to learn from home. We in conjunction the St. Joseph Hospital conduct an 8 hour intense training class that teaches these students the “in and outs” of baby sitting. From how to changing diapers, what to do if the parents come home drunk, to CPR. They have hands-on training on many activities and then a final written exam of 50 questions before they are awarded the Safe Sitter Certificate. This program is on a needs basis only.

Community Paper Shredding

For the past 8 years we have provided free papers shredding to our communities on the Saturday after April 15. This allows businesses and families to shred their past tax returns and other expired documents right before their own eyes. We have filled a shredding truck six out of the eight years we have been providing this service.

Hospital Doll Program

When a child sees a doctor or is admitted to a hospital for a illness or pain in their body, they many times cannot explain where their pain is. A stuffed doll with arms and legs like the child can be used to have the child tell the doctor where the pain is by pointing to the doll. We make these dolls from scratch, cutting them out of mullen, sewing the front and back together, then stuff it with a non-allergic filler. We then attach a water color pen so the child can put a face to the doll and decorate it as they choose. This many times becomes their closest friend while in the hospital.

For more information about these and other service projects, please contact the club secretary at reisterstown35kiwanis@gmail.com.