MONTE VISTA— Last year’s Kiwanis coat drive ran from April through November and at least 200 coats of various sizes were collected for families in need.
The annual coat drive is a longstanding event held by the Kiwanis to help underserved families living in the area stay warm in winter. Empty boxes are placed in San Luis Valley Federal Bank and Rio Grande Savings & Loan for coat collections. The coats are taken to Sparkle Cleaners, which generously cleans them pro bono.
From there, some of the coats are taken to the Monte Vista Food Bank for distribution. “We give them away from November through April, and it’s amazing how many people come in for coats,” said Monte Vista Food Bank Director Jennifer Becker. “Kids’ coats usually go the fastest, and by winter’s end we don’t have a lot left.” The food bank also gives away gloves and hats.
In other Kiwanis news, the group also continues the tradition of visiting San Luis Valley seniors. “Each month, we visit a different senior home to give away treats and spend time with them,” said Kiwanis board member Janet Noland. This month, the group will visit The Legacy Senior Living Center. Come December, the Kiwanis step up their kindness by visiting all of the senior homes in Monte Vista for candy cane giveaways.
Coming up in the next couple of months for the Kiwanis are some 100 dictionary giveaways for third graders and the traditional birders breakfast served during the Monte Vista Crane Festival on Saturday, March 9. The Boy Scouts troop 307 will be assisting with the breakfast, which aims to raise money for future Kiwanis projects. The Kiwanis will also hold its annual quilt raffle at the crane festival as another money raiser. Local quilter Raydene Plane is stitching together this year’s quilt.  
Funds raised will help support Key Club scholarships, next year’s dictionary giveaway, Chromebooks for local schools, treats for seniors, the Boy Scouts #307 troop and Christmas shoeboxes filled with toys and necessities for needy people around the world.
The Kiwanis put up the flags in downtown Monte Vista and assist with the Wreaths Across America project  held every holiday season at the Homelake Cemetery.   
For more information about the Kiwanis, visit mvkiwanis.weebly.com or the Monte Vista Kiwanis Facebook page. The group meets every Wednesday for lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. at Church of Christ, 200 Franklin St. Lunch is $10. Guests and new members are welcome.