Kiwanis Peanut Days have Cubs connection
It's that time again. Just like back to school or the start of the NFL season, Kiwanis Peanut Days signals the approach of fall.
In St. Charles, this year's peanut days will be Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 14-16, a week earlier than usual. Orange-vested St. Charles Kiwanis Club members will be requesting donations at various sites around town, such as the Blue Goose, Jewel, and Dunkin' Donuts.
Every dollar, after expenses, goes to local organizations that help children and families in the area. There are more than 40 organizations that benefit, including TriCity Family Services, Boy and Girl Scouts, LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, CASA-Kane County, and Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley.
This signature Kiwanis fundraising effort had its beginning in 1951 at Wrigley Field. During a rain delay at a Cubs game, Kiwanians Al Bluhm and Harold Hayward hit upon the idea of putting peanuts in the shell, like those at the ballpark, into paper bags and asking for donations to raise funds for their clubs. Eight clubs participated in the first Peanut Day in September 1951. Soon, it became a national phenomenon, resulting in the prepackaged peanuts and boxes of 100 packages available for donations today.
A recent addition to Kiwanis Peanut Days has been the donation of boxes of peanuts to U.S. troops overseas. They are a good energy snack for them and much appreciated. Kiwanians are already contacting previous donors for boxes of peanuts, but anyone can donate by visiting the St. Charles Kiwanis Club website at www.kiwanisofstcharles.org.
Donating will greatly assist Kiwanis in its mission of helping the children of the world, one child and one community at a time.