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Springville Kiwanis Club Celebrates 100 Years
Springville Kiwanis Club celebrating 100 years
In 1922, a group of local residents gathered together and organized a service club. Now, 100 years later, the Springville Kiwanis Club is the oldest service club in Springville, and its efforts to support the city and its residents have influenced every facet of the community. “I think our Springville community is very service-oriented,” said John Jacobson, current president of the Springville Kiwanis Club, “so I think that speaks for why The Springville club has continued through the years.”
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The Springville Kiwanis Club was chartered on Feb. 2, 1922, with John Franklin Smith as its first president. The group has met in a wide variety of locations over the years, including the Domestic Science room at the old Springville High School, the upper floor of the old Mendenhall Bank building, the cultural hall of a local church building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Veterans Room and main hall of the Memorial Building on 200 South (now the Senior Center), as well as various local restaurants. Of course, during the warmer months, the club meets at the Kiwanis Pavilion in Kelly’s Grove up Hobble Creek Canyon.
Major projects undertaken by the Springville club over the years have included assisting with the funding of the old high school’s swimming pool; putting in lawns, a sprinkling system and restrooms at Kelly’s Grove; participating in several city beautification projects; purchasing 225 chairs for the Springville Museum of Art; and procuring a speaker system and piano for the Senior Center. One of its biggest projects was installing the large fireplace at the Kiwanis Pavilion in Kelly’s Grove in 1953-54. In 1970, the club returned and built the cover for the fireplace and picnic area at the site.
The Springville Kiwanis Club is part of Kiwanis International, a worldwide organization focused on service, particularly when it comes to improving the lives of children and youth. The projects that the club supports are meant to further this goal of helping children in the community.
One of the projects and activities the club currently conducts is the annual Kiwanis Sub-4-Santa and community-wide Food Drive. In 2021, eight Church of Jesus Christ stakes as well as Art City Church and the Presbyterian Community Church helped distribute thousands of plastic bags for donated food throughout the community, then brought the filled bags to the old high school gym near the Springville Muse-
The officers of the Springville Kiwanis Club sign advertising club meetings in 1934. The sign is located at 600 S. Main, Springville.
Members of the Springville Kiwanis Club pose in front of their newly completed fireplace at the Kiwanis area in Kelly’s Grove in 1954.
um of Art.
On a Saturday morning last December, more than 100 individuals, including club members, community members and Springville High School Key Club and basketball players volunteered their time to sort the donated food and box it up to be delivered to needy families in the community.
A total of 536 boxes were packed with food; at about 40 to 50 pounds per box, that’s more than 26,000 pounds of donated food. Gift cards worth $40 each were included in each box, as were coupons for children to redeem at the Springville Public Library for a free book.
In May of 2021, the Springville Kiwanis Club opened a food pantry on the north side of the Grant School Early Learning Center at 424 E. 100 South. The location operates as a satellite location of Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo. The goal of the food pantry is to distribute donated food directly to low-income families in the Springville area.
The Springville Kiwanis Club works closely with the Springville High School Key Club. Key Clubs are for high schoolaged students and operate in conjunction with their local Kiwanis clubs. In Key Club, students learn about leadership, service and volunteerism. The SHS Key Club is the largest Key Club in the Utah/ Idaho Kiwanis District with more than 100 members. It’s also the largest club at SHS. Key Club members are often involved in the Springville Kiwanis club’s activities.
The Springville Kiwanis Club helps fund the Children’s Art Festival held each year during Art City Days at the Springville Museum of Art. Thousands of children attend each year to participate in a variety of arts-related activities. The club also sponsors Community Scout Unit 1456, awards annual scholarships to Springville High School students who demonstrate outstanding service leadership, and provides volunteers for the Reading is Fundamental program at the Grant School Early Learning Center. “You can see that, through the 100 years, it’s enriched the community,” Jacobson said of the Springville club.
The famous Kiwanis Scone Booth serves as a fundraiser to support the club’s many programs and activities. Each year, volunteers spend hundreds of hours frying and serving delicious scones in Civic Center Park during Art City Days. For many, Art City Days is not complete without a visit to the scone booth. All of the funds raised by the club go directly to support its programs. The $15-per-month dues paid by its members cover the club’s membership in Kiwanis International.
The Springville Kiwanis Club has nearly 30 members and is growing. The club meets twice a month on the first and third Thursdays. Those interested in joining the club should visit the club’s Facebook page, which can be reached via the QR code printed with this story.
“As the current president, on behalf of all of our Springville Kiwanis members, we would invite anyone who has a desire to build the community’s youth, to come join with us,” Jacobson said.
CELEBRATION DINNER
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of its founding, the Springville Kiwanis Club will host a dinner and program on Oct. 20, 2022, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Springville Museum of Art. All are invited, including city leaders, families of previous members, club supporters and those interested in the club’s work. For tickets, visit: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/springvillekiwanis-100-year-anniversary-celebration-tickets-257204624957
