For 20 years, the Kiwanis Club of Hemet has sponsored weekly bowling nights for children with special needs. Every Monday, 40 children from the Hemet Unified School District are provided transportation by the school district to and from the bowling alley for a fun night of bowling with friends and Kiwanians!
The club is proud to host this weekly event for these children. “The one big reason we provide the bowling is it is the only outing that many of these children with special needs have that enables them to have fun,” shared Lyle Roberts, club member and chairman of this ongoing project. However, the cost of this event has steadily increased over the years, from $1.50 to $4.00 per child.
Unwilling to let this important project go, the Kiwanis Club of Hemet turned to the Cal-Nev-Ha Children’s Fund for assistance. In February 2020, the club received a Special Needs Community Grant from the Cal-Nev-Ha Children’s Fund to assist with funding this meaningful event, much to the delight of the children and everyone involved! “The impact on the community has been tremendous,” said Lyle. “The bowling brings together children with disabilities from different schools for some fantastic fun. There is nothing like a strike to generate a bunch of high fives and lots of cheering the kids, the Kiwanians, and visitors.”