Plainfield Magazine May 2024

BIG ASK

GET YOUR GROUP THINK ON WITH TRIVIA NIGHTS AT THE PREWITT

Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided

It’s not often adults get together, arrange themselves into teams, play games and win prizes. But Jamison Hemmert helps them do just that, as he hosts trivia nights regularly at the Prewitt in Plainfield.

“Everyone loves trivia,” Hemmert said. “It’s always fun to prove you know more than your friends and workers.”

Trivia is a six-round game, with every round lasting eight minutes. Questions are typically based on general knowledge, and it’s a game anyone can play; all ages and experiences are welcome.

Hemmert is a trivia host with an Indianapolis-based company called Hambone’s Trivia, owned by Matt Hammond. The company hosts trivia

games primarily for the corporate world, promoting team building and company culture in workplaces all over the world. Several years ago Hemmert’s tech company held a tech-themed trivia night at the Vogue in Indianapolis, hosted by Hambone’s Trivia. Hemmert had such a blast with his coworkers that he began to follow Hambone’s Trivia on social media. After playing a few more times, Hemmert found he had so much fun, he wondered if he could host trivia nights too.

He reached out to Hammond at Hambone’s Trivia to ask about hosting. He sent Hammond a recording of himself hosting a trivia night and told Hammond he’d love to be the company’s foothold on the west side of Indianapolis.

Hammond loved it, and the rest is history.

Hemmert has been hosting trivia nights since September of last year. In November he began hosting regular trivia nights at the Prewitt in Plainfield. These evenings have begun to draw a healthy crowd including regular teams who are repeat attenders.

Hammond says his company has a penchant for running wildly successful trivia nights.

“Our secret sauce is that our questions require reason, not recall,” Hammond said. “Our trivia is about our collective shared experience. We make people remember these nostalgic moments in their life. It’s approachable, and none of it makes people feel stupid or silly.”

Hammond employs about 60 hosts in his company, and all are encouraged to make their trivia nights their own. Hammond

insists this is what makes Hemmert stand out as a host in Plainfield.

“He really takes leadership and connects with the audience,” Hammond said. “They know him. He’s their friend. He has a true passion for what he does for us.”

Themes and questions are based on research done by Hammond and Hemmert. In fact, when Hemmert hosted a “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” trivia night, it was his first attempt at writing his own trivia questions.

“The lesson I learned is there’s a fine line between too hard and not hard enough,” Hemmert said. “It’s finding that sweet spot and dialing into the crowd. There’s a lot of workshopping involved.”

Hammond uses many sources such as Reddit, Guinness World Records and more. He’s also constantly watching current events and checking into trends.

“Since the Prewitt used to be a movie theater, we’ve leaned heavily into movies,” Hemmert said of his trivia nights. “We’ve done children’s Christmas classics, New Year’s-themed movie trivia, winter movies, “Harry Potter”, “The Office”, and of course Taylor Swift.”

Trivia nights often turn into regular events for fans, who make up teams with fun names like the Dewey Decimals or the

Homerunners. The Prewitt usually hosts anywhere from 10 to 25 teams every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Hambone’s Trivia has hosted upwards of 50 teams.

Hemmert said trivia is fun because it’s for anyone.

“It’s a very low-entry-bar activity that anyone can do,” Hemmert said. “I’ve seen families and even young kids come out and have a blast. If you don’t know the answer, you’ll learn it and so you’re learning new things. If you do know the answer, it feels great to win - and it’s free.”

Trivia prizes depend on the venue. The Prewitt often offers $25 gift cards to winners, but all winners get a yellow pig trophy, so winners can “bring home the bacon.”

“The reaction to this chintzy little trophy is just hilarious,” Hemmert said. “People are so happy.”

Hemmert loves working for Hambone’s Trivia because the nature of the game is warm and inclusive. Players are never made to feel unintelligent or unwelcome. He will often try to slide in a little extra information if people are struggling, to give it that extra human touch.

Hammond and Hemmert encourage anyone interested in a different kind of night out to try trivia.

“Never count yourself out,” Hemmert said. “I’ve seen teams turn it around at the last minute. Seeing them erupt and be so happy is just so fun. It’s why it’s a great game. You never feel like you’re not smart enough to come and play.”

You can find the schedule and themes for the Prewitt trivia nights at prewittdining.com.

We all want to find our passion in life - that thing that revs us up, makes us tick and soothes our soul. Eddie Kelley found his passion on a dirt bike. He first engaged in dirt bike racing when he was 14 years old as a fun activity to do with his dad. It didn’t take long, however, for racing to take center stage.

“It consumed my life,” says Eddie. “More than that, it drastically changed my life.”

Eddie began participating in various racing competitions, most notably the Grand National Cross Country racing series for amateurs, which involves two-hour races with venues spanning from Florida to Indiana.

In 2019 Eddie attended his first Fuel Ministry camp. The camp includes daily devotions, a nighttime chapel service, and lots of adrenaline-pumping dirt bike riding. Eddie adored Fuel Ministry so much that he began working as a summer intern in 2021. On July 24, 2023, he was riding at a camp in Ohio when he had a seemingly minor accident that turned worse when the bike landed on his head, causing significant damage to his helmet. An emergency medical technician saw that his breathing was shallow, and his pupils were twitching in different directions.

Staff notified his parents that Eddie was being airlifted to the nearest trauma hospital to be treated for a traumatic brain injury.

“In that moment, everything stopped,” recalls his mom, Jamie. She grabbed her Bible, and she and her husband jumped in the car and started driving. When they saw their 19-year-old son lying unconscious and hooked up to countless tubes, they fell to their knees and prayed. And they weren’t the only ones. Their friends and family, their church community, Fuel Ministry staff and campers, and even a tribe in Africa were all lifting Eddie in prayer.

“There were thousands of people praying,” says Jamie.

Eddie was in an intensive care unit for eight days, the first two in a coma. He was intubated, and when nurses initially turned off the machine to see if he could breathe on his own, he could not.

“That was a big realization that this machine was keeping my son alive,” Jamie says.

Doctors didn’t know what kind of longterm issues Eddie could have. It was wait and see, one day at a time.

“At one point my husband said to me, ‘You know, Jamie, God is still a good God even if our prayers aren’t answered the way we’re asking,’” says Jamie. “We didn’t know what would happen, but God gave us this sense of peace.”

Upon arriving at the hospital, a CT scan revealed several brain bleeds. Doctors placed a pressure sensor in Eddie’s head, which they watched for 48 hours. If it reached a certain number, it would necessitate removing some of his skull to relieve the pressure. The next day he had another CT scan, which showed that one spot had disappeared. The following day, a third scan detected no brain bleeds.

“That was the power of prayer,” says his dad.

When Eddie awoke in the hospital room, he had no recollection of what had happened.

He would fall asleep and wake up needing a recap again and again.

“It was like the movie ‘50 First Dates,’ in which the character wakes up with fresh amnesia every day,” says Eddie, who repeatedly asked the same questions.

The moment Eddie realized he couldn’t walk, he cried, screamed, fought and wrestled to get up. One time he did, but he couldn’t stay standing.

“I felt so frustrated because I wanted to get back to what I loved, and yet I couldn’t even walk or stand on my own,” Eddie says.

Early in his recovery, Eddie struggled to feel God’s presence. One day he called out, “God, where are you?” Nevertheless, he never lost faith. While in the hospital, Eddie’s parents played Christian music, read scripture to him and prayed. One day they assured him that he was going to be

OK. Eddie replied, “I know. You taught me well. I know Jesus is with me.”

After two weeks in the trauma hospital, Eddie was transported to a rehab hospital in Indianapolis where he spent 10 days. While there, he learned to walk again. His short-term memory also continued to improve. On August 19 he was discharged and began outpatient occupational, speech and physical therapy. Throughout the fall, Eddie received hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which involved him lying in a chamber and being fed pure oxygen to accelerate brain cell healing.

His therapists encouraged him to get back to doing the things he did prior to the accident as soon as possible, to help reconnections form in the brain. In November 2023 Eddie mounted his dirt bike for the first time since July.

“The more time I spend on the bike, the more things click,” he says.

It was never a question of if, but when he would return to his passion.

The Kelley Family

“This isn’t a hobby for me,” says Eddie. “It’s my identity, my ministry. I need to live life to the fullest and not be scared. None of us know what the future holds. My accident taught me that it’s important to do things you love while you can.”

In December Eddie celebrated his 20th birthday with his parents and sister, Angelle. He has a fresh perspective on life. For starters, he jumps out of bed now because he can.

“It’ll take a lot to ever say a day is bad again,” says Eddie, who feels confident in God’s master plan. “God pushed my papers back across the table. It seems he still has stuff for me to do here on Earth.”

Helmet after the crash

Path to P ROGRESS

UNLIKELY JOURNEYS OFFERS SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO HENDRICKS COUNTY KIDS AND PARENTS

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Danielle Burkett understands pain, depression and hopelessness. She’s lived it and come out the other side. After suffering sexual abuse as a young girl, she began acting out and making poor decisions at age 12, and using drugs and alcohol by age 13. Her adolescence included delinquent and criminal acts. Even as she was spiraling, she knew when she grew up that she wanted to find a way to help people like her.

When she was 17 she went to an Outward Bound program, where she volunteered at a soup kitchen. During one of her shifts, a youth came in who was younger than she was. Burkett felt drawn to help. Her passion for helping only deepened from there.

She started working towards earning a degree in social work at 20 years old, but she suffered a setback after giving birth to her first son when doctors sent her home with Vicodin. Back then the dangers of opioid addiction weren’t as widely understood, and she quickly got hooked on pain pills.

On August 15, 2012, Burkett hit rock bottom when she got arrested for shoplifting. Her plan that day was to shoplift items and sell them for heroin so she could complete suicide. Essentially, the arrest saved her life. While it took several weeks to recover from drug withdrawal, once she was clean and sober, she had a fresh perspective. She recognized that she was given a new lease on life. Plus, while incarcerated, she felt things she’d not experienced before.

“I laughed in jail, and I couldn’t ever remember laughing before,” she says.

Behind bars, she felt a sense of belonging because she was surrounded by people who understood.

“I had always been the quiet person who stuffed all my feelings deep down inside,” says Burkett. “I rarely had conversations of substance with anyone because I kept so many secrets about my trauma.”

Burkett’s sentence was modified because she entered a substance abuse treatment program while incarcerated.

While serving time, she thought about how her oldest son, who was nearly a teenager at the time, had lived most of his life in the shadow of her addiction. She knew that her history with drug use increased the likelihood that he, too, would fall prey to addiction. That realization served as motivation for her to stay clean and sober. It also fueled her desire to find a way to help youth who felt alone and abandoned.

“I have this belief that if we really want to see lasting change, we need to start with kids aged 5, 6, 7 years old, because they may not be learning the skills they need at home,” Burkett says. “Our society needs to adopt the attitude that it takes a village, because it really does.”

In 2017 Burkett became a peer recovery coach. In this role she helps recoverees with a variety of topics, from learning about empathy to providing financial and budgeting skills, to giving tips on cooking. Some recoverees are scared to attend a 12-step program or other recovery meeting for the first time, so she may accompany them for moral support. Sometimes peer coaches provide recoverees with resources. Other times they offer advice on topics like how to earn a GED or suggestions for finding a therapist trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

“We’re different than therapy,” says Burkett. “We don’t deal with trauma. We stay present-day focused with them, setting goals for the problem at hand.”

Once a month, she volunteers at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Division.

In 2022, Burkett’s life was upended when she suffered a debilitating stroke that left her unable to speak, walk or use her right arm. Over time she had to learn to talk, walk and drive again. However, following the stroke, she was miraculously no longer saddled with the many lifelong insecurities that had previously

Danielle Burkett

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plagued her. Prior to the stroke, she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. For years she had asked God to improve her mental illness and trauma, so when she awoke from the stroke feeling positive, she took it as an answered prayer.

“I couldn’t explain the positivity I felt but I was grateful because before, I was always frustrated, annoyed, unhappy and suicidal,” she says. “Now I felt only gratitude.”

After the stroke, she had clarity about what she needed to do; in August 2022, she founded Unlikely Journeys, a nonprofit that provides free spaces where youth can meet in a group setting and/or one-on-one to discuss issues related to drug use, mental health and the justice system. Unlikely Journeys provides support for youths

aged 12 to 17 in Hendricks County who are experiencing mental health concerns, substance use or justice-related issues. Plus, they visit incarcerated youth on a monthly basis to provide similar support within the facility. They offer free weekly support groups for youth, parents and guardians. In addition, Burkett has the kids engage in community service work to help teach discipline, build community, and foster empathy and gratitude in youth.

“I think this type of service helps youth see that there is more out there,” she says.

Down the line, Burkett hopes to acquire a building for Unlikely Journeys that can be a sanctuary for kids who are suspended, expelled, or need additional educational supports.

“I’d love to provide tutors because for

these juvenile justice kiddos, education is a struggle,” she says.

She also hopes to someday provide some healing interventions for youth such as yoga, martial arts and horseback riding.

“The vision is very big,” she says. The youth support group meets on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Your Venture Church, 7865 North County Road 100 East in Pittsboro. The parent support group meets on Sundays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Willow Center, 515 North Green Street in Brownsburg.

For more information about Unlikely Journeys, call 317-760-8624, email danielle@unlikelyjourneys.org, or visit unlikelyjourneys.org.

Set for Summer

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN HENDRICKS COUNTY’S MANY SUMMERTIME PURSUITS

Writer

/ Josh Duke Photography Provided

Do you realize how fortunate we are to live or work, or both, in Hendricks County? Working for Visit Hendricks County and volunteering to help with our county’s bicentennial celebration this year, I’ve become increasingly aware of what a blessing and privilege it is.

With that said, I’m excited to share all the wonderful activities and events you can enjoy this summer.

What’s New in 2024

If you haven’t heard, we have an exciting new entertainment and event venue in downtown Plainfield. Hendricks Live! provides an experience we were lacking in our county. Events, activities and acts continue to be announced regularly as they fill the 2024 lineup.

I was fortunate enough to get a hard-hat tour before it opened, and what an amazing, state-of-the-art facility! They thought of everything, and I can’t wait to experience a performance there soon.

Another fun entertainment venue that just opened in The Shops at Perry Crossing, LumberjAXE provides an innovative axe-throwing experience as targets are projected onto the wood in front of you. Choose what’s projected, such as an old school bullseye or games like Tic Tac Toe or Zombie Assassin. The software makes it challenging and allows visitors a great selection of games.

While this is an old favorite, Splash Island Family Waterpark will look different when it opens later this month. The outdoor water park is currently undergoing an $8-millionplus renovation that will add more slides

and bring many other improvements to its visitors when it opens Memorial Day weekend.

Would you like to be more in the know about all the latest happenings in our county? You can subscribe to our Hendricks County Weekly Insider at visithendrickscounty.com.

Finally, the bicentennial will become a running theme throughout 2024. Organizations, businesses and even individuals are developing projects that leave a legacy, hosting both new and existing events with some kind of historic or celebratory theme related to our county’s 200 years. So, get out there and help us celebrate. You can learn so much more about the bicentennial online at hendricks200.com.

Top Summer Events

It truly is an exciting year for events in Hendricks County, especially over the next four months! I’m not going to cover all our summer events here. Consider this a sampling of our most notable events For simplicity, I have put them in chronological order.

Hendricks County Rib-Fest & BBQ

When: June 29

Where: Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex in Danville

Details: This long-running festival will have a revival of sorts, as the Hendricks County Bicentennial Steering Committee has partnered with organizers to bring live entertainment back to this popular event. Participants can expect the same fun that has made this festival a local favorite including great food, children’s activities, fireworks and so much more.

Hendricks County 4-H Fair

When: July 14-20

Where: Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex in Danville

Details: You can expect usual fair favorites including exhibits, animals, carnival rides, fair food and demonstrations. There will be a distinct history-meets birthday feel, as this year’s theme will center around our county’s 200 years.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series TSport 200

When: July 19

Where: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg

Details: Get ready for a heart-pounding return as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series comes back to IRP for a third consecutive year. The excitement kicks off with the TSport 200 under the dazzling lights on Friday, accompanied by the ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 200, setting the stage for a premier week of auto racing action in Indianapolis.

Top Summer Events

NHRA U.S. Nationals

When: August 28-September 2

Where: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg

Details: Rev your engines for the 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, a long-standing tradition at IRP over Labor Day weekend. If you’ve never been because you don’t consider yourself a race fan, don’t let that deter you from taking in this bucket-list event. This will easily be the most powerful and sensory-filled attraction you will ever experience if you give it a shot.

North Salem Old Fashion Days

When: August 31-September 2

Where: Downtown North Salem

Details: Labor Day weekend also brings us this annual event, steeped in tradition and renowned for its fun-loving contests. It features the county’s longest parade on Saturday morning and the exhilarating annual bed races through the heart of town - a true spectacle - on Monday.

For more information or to learn more about all the events, things to do, places visithendrickscounty.com.

If you are an event organizer, you can easily add your event to our Events Calendar if it meets certain parameters outlined on the site.

The 33,000 sq. ft. Hendricks County 4-H Conference Center offers great flexibility and versitility for your next meeting, seminar, banquet, or wedding reception SPECIAL FEATURES

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• Easy load-in areas with overhead door

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• ADA accessibility

NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH: KNOW THE SIGNS

Writer / Kirsten Strausburg, Stroke Clinical Program Coordinator at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

Stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or reduced, leading to brain cell damage. It is crucial to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke promptly, as early intervention can significantly improve outcomes.

KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

One effective way to remember the signs of stroke is through the acronym BEFAST, which stands for balance, eyes, face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and time to call emergency services:

1. Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination can be a warning sign of stroke. If you or someone you know experiences sudden dizziness, trouble walking or difficulty standing up straight, it’s essential to seek medical attention immediately.

2. Eyes: Vision problems such as sudden blurred or double vision, or difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes, can indicate a stroke.

3. Face Drooping: One of the most recognizable signs of a stroke is drooping or numbness on one side of the face. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, ask them to smile. If their smile appears uneven or lopsided, it could be a sign of facial weakness, indicating a stroke.

4. Arm Weakness: Weakness or numbness in one arm, particularly when it occurs suddenly or is accompanied by other stroke symptoms, should not be ignored. If you notice one arm drifting downward when both arms are raised, it’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly.

5. Speech Difficulties: Difficulty speaking or understanding speech can be a sign of a stroke. Encourage the person to repeat a simple sentence. If their speech is slurred or incomprehensible, it’s time to call for help.

6. Time to Call Emergency Services: Time is of the essence when it comes to stroke. Quick action can make a significant difference in minimizing the long-term effects of a stroke and improving the chances of recovery.

THERE ARE SEVERAL RISK FACTORS

In addition to recognizing the signs of stroke, it’s essential to understand the risk factors associated with stroke and the steps to take for stroke prevention. High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol are all significant risk factors. Making lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco and managing chronic conditions can help reduce your risk.

Stroke awareness is crucial for everyone. Understanding the BEFAST signs and symptoms can save lives by enabling prompt recognition and treatment of stroke. Remember, if you or someone you know experiences any of the BEFAST signs, don’t wait - act fast and call emergency services immediately.

FOR KIDS AND COMMUNITY

KIWANIS

PLAINFIELD TURNING 50

When Lori Lee joined the Kiwanis Club of Plainfield in 2017, she was the only female in a group of 12.

“They were so good to me,” said Lee, the current president. “[Club founders] Tom Hilligoss and Frank Davis were there. I knew the Kiwanis mission from my high school days and wanted to get involved.”

The mission Lee refers to is “to improve the world one child and one community at a time.”

In 2024, they are celebrating 50 years of giving back to the community.

After joining, Lee suggested their small evening meeting at the library move to lunchtime at Chicago’s Pizza in Plainfield, and almost immediately added 12 people to the group.

When Harry Gill, membership chair, joined in 2019, the group numbered around 50 members, and today they welcome more than 100.

“I had just opened up my insurance agency and joined the chamber,” Gill said. “From there, I was introduced to Kiwanis and thought, ‘This is something I want to do.’ If you want to make the community better, helping kids is one way to do that. I was allin and started recruiting others to join.”

Meetings are held at 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday each month at Bru Burger in Plainfield (they outgrew Chicago’s fairly quickly), and typically include lunch, a local speaker and a raffle.

FROM DESIGN TO BUILD WE’VE GOT YOUR REMODEL COVERED

New member luncheon at Greek’s Pizzeria in Plainfield. Original Charter Members in 1981

It’s part socialization, part networking, and mostly involves supporting children in the community through donations of time and funds.

In addition to the two meetings per month, the members convene for Dine to Donate events, volunteer opportunities, and other gatherings outside of official club meetings. They’ve created a family of business owners, nonprofits and leaders in the community. “The school is a big partner as well as the town,” Lee said. “We’re very connected

to the police and fire department, the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office, Plainfield town manager and others.” Those connections help them accomplish so much in a short time.

“There are times we need something and we have these connections,” Gill said. “With members from all walks of life, people are there for us in a second.” This takes different forms. Perhaps it’s the birthday, get-well and sympathy cards the club sends to members during life changes. It might be the holiday

donations they provide for more than a dozen families each Christmas.

“We want people to know that we’re not there just to take donations,” Gill said. “We want to be a part of your life, and a card is a little thing, but it helps. If we hear of someone who is sick or going through a loss, we want to reach out as a part of the Kiwanis family.”

They host annual events like the Santa House each holiday season, which includes

Recent Luncheon

Plainfield Kiwanis Board of Directors

hot chocolate, pizza, cookies and a visit with Santa. They sponsor numerous sports teams in the Plainfield area, and what began as two scholarships for high school students has grown to six (one in honor of Hilligoss).

On June 13, the Plainfield Kiwanis members will host their annual Golf Fore the Kids outing with title sponsor Flora Brothers Painting.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser,” Lee said. “It stands out to me because it’s where we receive the funds to do all of the scholarships. It can take 20 years to get a golf outing event to grow. We’re in our fourth year and we sell out.”

With the club’s success, they’ve also reached out to other communities in need of support for their children.

“We’ve invited Cascade to join us too,” Lee said. “We have a member from Cascade who saw the need to come toward Plainfield to get help for his kids, and this year we sponsored four children from Cascade at Christmas. We’ll be offering the scholarships to those students as well.”

In honor of their 50th birthday, the Plainfield Kiwanis has a couple of initiatives planned, including 50 Years of Giving, 12 Months of Gifts, with the goal of collecting at least 50 items each month for a different organization in the community.

In January they collected children’s winter gloves and hats, and well exceeded their goal - as usual for the club.

“Our anniversary committee came up with the idea to give 50 items each month for our Receiving donation from Walmart

50th anniversary, and the first month we brought in 270 hats and gloves,” Gill said. “We’ve had members say whatever we bring in, they’ll double it.”

In February they collected diapers and wipes for Family Promise of Hendricks County. Over the summer they’ll collect school supplies for teachers and activity bags for children at the Plainfield Youth Assistance Program. This fall they’ll collect toys to donate for the Plainfield Police Department’s holiday drive. They also want to celebrate with a large event for the people closest to their heartschildren in the community.

From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on September 14, the Kiwanis members will host a carnival for kids on the lawn of Friends Church in Plainfield.

It’s just one more way they are able to give back and celebrate their successful club.

“We’re still in the planning stages, but it’ll be a free community event and we’re talking about a bicycle rodeo and a dunk tank among other things,” Lee said.

While Plainfield Kiwanis continues to grow and give, the international Kiwanis organization is watching the success that comes from a community working together in numerous ways.

“They’re asking us how we’re doing it,” Lee said. “They have one new member every few months and we have several new members

at every meeting. I think people hear about how we’re helping others and they want to get involved. We’re the fun club. We care about each other.”

Members are sticking around too. Lee and Gill estimate more than 75% renew their membership each year, and though they might not make it to every meeting, they enjoy being a part of something big happening in the community.

The more people who know about the club, Gill added, the more they can give back.

“It’s the community coming together and opening their hearts and their wallets,” Gill said. “All the money goes back to our kids in

the community.”

Current officers include Lee, Gill, Vice President Rhonda Zollner, Secretary Bill Clendineng and Treasurer Jill Hunter.

Memberships are $135 per year. Anyone is welcome to attend a lunch or reach out to a member via the Plainfield Kiwanis Facebook page, or at plainfieldkiwanis.org.

“I think people hear about how we’re helping others and they want to get involved. We’re the fun club. We care about each other.”

- Lori Lee

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