St. Charles Kiwanis giving back to the community

When seven St. Charles Kiwanians, along with three family members, cleaned up a block-long area behind a local Jewel store late last month, it made perfect sense.

Kiwanis is a service club - it's what they do.

But, why was a St. Charles club helping a store in Elburn? It was simply an act of giving back. The Elburn Jewel has been the drop-off location for the club's plastic collection project since it started collecting in 2019.

For background, the Trex company, makers of composite decking, had issued a challenge for organizations to collect 500 pounds of plastic bags in exchange for a donated bench - a benefit to the community and the environment.

The St. Charles Kiwanis club accepted the challenge.

With the help of Trex partner sites, like the Jewel in Elburn and Jewel stores on the east and west side of St. Charles, the plastic that the club collects takes the next step in its transformation to a bench. Four benches have been made so far, with a fifth on the way.

Last month's cleanup was just an example of cooperation between two helping hands in the community. It's what they do.

To learn more about the St. Charles Kiwanis, visit www.kiwanisofstcharles.org or www.facebook.com/StCharlesKiwanis/.