Russell Sunrise Kiwanis
Chartered in 1984
Kids Need Kiwanis
Kiwanis Legacy Fund Supports Area Children
The Russell Sunrise Kiwanis Club is dedicated to making a lasting difference in the lives of children in our community — and now, that commitment is secured for generations to come through the Kiwanis Legacy Fund.
Established with the Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF), this fund ensures ongoing support for local youth programs and initiatives. By partnering with RCACF, our club has created a permanent endowment that will grow over time, providing annual distributions to benefit children and families in need — helping fund events like the Jim Thoman Halloween Parade, Russell Easter Egg Hunt, and other Kiwanis-sponsored projects.
This legacy fund represents our unwavering mission: “Serving the children of the world”, starting right here in Russell.
How to Donate:
Want to be part of this lasting legacy? You can donate directly to the Kiwanis Legacy Fund through the Russell County Area Community Foundation. Visit RCACF’s donation page or contact RCACF at (785) 445-3611 to learn more.
Together, we’re building a brighter tomorrow — one child at a time.
Second Annual Kiwanis Youth Benefit Shoot
📢 Mark Your Calendars!
Join us for the Second Annual Kiwanis Youth Benefit Shoot on May 3, 2025, at Lasada Lodge in Russell, KS!
🕘 Schedule:
- Check-in: 9:00 a.m.
- Start time: 9:30 a.m.
🏹 Details:
- Classes: Adult & Youth (17 and under)
- Prizes: Awarded to top shooters!
- Pre-registration required.
🎟️ Raffle:
Win a rifle! Tickets are $20 each (maximum of 100 tickets available).
💵 Sponsorships:
Station sponsorships are available for $100 each (first-come, first-served).
📲 Contact a Sunrise Kiwanis member today to get raffle tickets, or become a sponsor!
Wrapping Up 2024 and Looking Ahead to the New Year
On Thursday, December 12, Tyler Dougherty from Angel’s Care Home Health visited Russell Sunrise Kiwanis to give an informative presentation about the wide range of services their organization provides. Angel’s Care Home Health operates in multiple states, and you can explore their offerings and locations by visiting their website at https://www.angelscarehealth.com/.
During the meeting, Kiwanis members took up a donation to purchase much-needed items for Angel’s Care clients. Below is a selection of the items donated, reflecting the generosity and community spirit of our club.
On Wednesday, December 18, Patsy Denault from Patsy D’s joined our morning meeting to share her journey of starting her business and her passion for creating BBQ sauce. She provided fascinating insights into her process and plans for the future, including:
- Currently operating out of a commercial kitchen in Bushton and exploring the possibility of opening one locally.
- Producing 7 bottles of BBQ sauce per gallon with a recipe that includes 32 ingredients.
- Developing a one-year business plan to expand her offerings.
- Offering two varieties of BBQ sauce: Regular and Hot.
- Honoring her brother Booker T by working toward making his signature sauce recipe available in the future.
We are inspired by Patsy’s dedication and entrepreneurial spirit and look forward to supporting her endeavors in our community.
Aktion Club Coloring for Christmas
The Russell Sunrise Kiwanis and Aktion Club gathered on November 26 to spread holiday cheer by coloring festive pages in preparation for Christmas. A joyful and creative way to celebrate the season!
Packing Shoe Boxes for Operation Christmas Child
At our Thursday morning meeting on November 14, Russell Sunrise Kiwanis packed 15 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! These boxes are filled with gifts and hope for children around the world.
📅 National Collection Week: November 18–25
📍 Drop-off Location for Russell, KS:
Chapel of Hope
67 S Culp, Russell, KS
For drop-off times or additional locations, visit: Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child Drop-off Locations.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this meaningful project! ❤️
#RussellSunriseKiwanis #OperationChristmasChild #ServingTheCommunity
Aktion Club Decorates Pumpkins for Halloween Fun!
Aktion Club Decorates Pumpkins for Halloween Fun!
This October, the Russell Sunrise Kiwanis Aktion Club members embraced the Halloween spirit by decorating pumpkins at their monthly meeting. The club gathered to enjoy a creative and festive project, painting and decorating pumpkins to celebrate the fall season and Halloween.
The activity allowed members to showcase their creativity, with each pumpkin turning out as unique as the artist who painted it. From spooky faces to cheerful designs, the pumpkins brightened up the room and brought plenty of Halloween cheer to the group.
Thank you to all our Aktion Club members who joined in on the fun and made this a memorable meeting! Keep an eye out for more fun activities coming soon as we continue our exciting year with the Aktion Club!
2024 Jim Thoman Halloween Parade
The annual Jim Thoman Halloween Parade brought smiles and treats to Russell on Saturday, October 26! Children lined up at 9:45 a.m. at 9th and Main Street, dressed in their best costumes, ready for the 10 a.m. parade kickoff. They made their way down Main Street to the courthouse, where treats awaited.
Russell Sunrise Kiwanis provided fresh apples to all the young ghosts, goblins, and superheroes, while our friends from Post Rock Family Services added to the fun with a Trunk N Treat setup. Afterward, the costumed children headed to downtown Main Street businesses, where they collected even more goodies. Treats were enjoyed by all, making for a memorable Halloween event in downtown Russell!
Annual Jim Thoman Halloween Parade Oct 26, 2024
Join Us for the Annual Jim Thoman Halloween Parade!
Date: October 26, 2024
Line-up: 9:45 AM at 9th and Main Street
Parade Start: 10:00 AM
Calling all area kids! Put on your best Halloween costume and join the fun. March down Main Street and show off your spooky, silly, or creative look.
After the parade, gather at the courthouse for treats—no tricks here! 
Post Rock Family Services will host a Trunk ‘n Treat, and participating businesses along Main Street will hand out even more goodies for trick-or-treaters.
This festive event is sponsored by Russell Sunrise Kiwanis. We can’t wait to see all your fantastic costumes!
Russell Sunrise Kiwanis Officer Installation – October 3
The Russell Sunrise Kiwanis would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our corporate member, Alpha 7 Outdoors, for hosting the Kiwanis Officer Installation event on the evening of October 3. It was a wonderful occasion where we welcomed new members and installed the 2024-2025 Board of Directors and Officers.
We also took the opportunity to honor Albert Lin of the Russell County News for his 30 years of dedicated service to the Russell County community, reporting on local events and keeping our community connected. Additionally, we recognized Tammy Mitchell for her Distinguished Service to Kiwanis, acknowledging her exceptional contributions to the club and the community.
Special thanks to Dawn Gabel, Past Governor for the Kansas district of Kiwanis, who graciously performed the installation of new members and officers.
2024-2025 Board of Directors and Officers:
- Board of Directors: Pam Nowak, Judy Corley, Ward Craig, Kai Muller
- Officers:
- Joyce Ellis – Secretary
- Tammy Mitchell – Treasurer
- Duane Adams – Vice President
- Dee Ann Matheson – President
We are also thrilled to welcome our newest member, Margie Ryan-Cheney, who was sponsored by Joyce Ellis.
The Kiwanis motto, “Serving the Children of the World,” continues to inspire all our efforts as we fundraise and organize community events focused on helping local children.
Upcoming Events:
2024 Jim Thoman Halloween Parade
Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 26! The annual Jim Thoman Halloween Parade will kick off with line-up beginning at 9:45 a.m. at 9th and Main Street, and the parade starting at 10 a.m..
After the parade, children are invited to gather at the courthouse for goodies provided by Russell Sunrise Kiwanis and Post Rock Family Services. Local businesses along Main Street will also be handing out treats, so be sure to stop by and join in the fun!
Aktion Club Activities
Russell Sunrise Kiwanis is proud to sponsor an active Aktion Club, which recently began their new year of activities. This October, they’ll be painting pumpkins to celebrate Fall and Halloween. It’s a fun and festive way for our Aktion Club members to get into the spirit of the season!
Russell Easter Egg Hunt
Looking ahead, our annual Russell Easter Egg Hunt at Bickerdyke Park will return in 2025. With the help of the Sunflower 4-H Club, who assist with stuffing and hiding the eggs, we aim to make next year’s event even more special.
The Easter Egg Hunt Committee, comprised of both groups and additional community members, worked together to gather donations, allowing us to provide a great event in 2024, where 18 bicycles and various prize baskets were given away to lucky participants.
For the upcoming 2025 hunt, we are excited to announce that we will be adding gift cards to local businesses as part of the prize offerings! Stay tuned for more details as the event approaches.
To help fund the 2025 hunt, we just completed a bake sale on October 5 at the Bricks, Broncs, and BBQ event in downtown Russell. We appreciate the community’s support and look forward to bringing even more fun to next year’s hunt!
Posted: March 29, 2025 by tmitchell Leave a Comment
2025 Russell Easter Egg Hunt Scheduled
Please join us for the Russell Easter Egg Hunt. Please note that children up to 6th grade are included due to the changes in the schools this year. Many local businesses have donated this year and we appreciate and love the community support and spirit. Have your kiddos bring their big baskets to fill and get ready to meet the Easter Bunny!