Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.
Two upcoming events for them is the Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday at 11 a.m. sharp at Gunn Park Shelter House #2 for area children. Children will need to bring their own basket.
Another of the organization’s projects through the years has been to plant trees, and this year they are continuing that tradition with the help of grant funding from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
If one looks down Fort Scott main streets, many of the trees in between the sidewalk and the street have been planted by Kiwanis members in the past.
Trees are available for residents and parks throughout Bourbon County.
“A lot of the trees we have planted are for citizens who don’t have the resources to put them in,” Craig Campbell, Kiwanis member, said.
This year the group ordered flowering Redbud trees and two types of shade trees, Swamp Chestnut Oak, and Water Oak.
The Kiwanis will supply and plant the trees the latter part of April.
“The Fort Scott FFA group has volunteered to help Kiwanis members plant the trees,” Campbell said. “The city of Fort Scott will help bore the holes.”
“Tim McDonnell, with the Kansas State Forestry Service will come to town prior to help us look at drainage issues, gas and water lines, overhead lines,” Campbell said.
McDonnell drives the streets in town also to see if there is overpopulation of one tree species.
“Dutch Elm in the past and Ash Trees have been noted to have pests recently,” he said. “Bradford Pears are not hardy to our area because ice storm and wind storm damage.”
“We need to be diverse to prevent (tree populations) being wiped out by pests or disease,” Campbell said.
To request a tree, call or text Craig Campbell at 620-224-0167, by April 7.
“The only obligation is to water the tree once a week for a year to get it established,” he said.
About Kiwanis
Fort Scott Kiwanis Club meets Tuesdays at noon at the First Presbyterian Church at Third and Crawford Street. Meals are provided.