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Circle K provides students with opportunity to serve others

By Carissa Van Heest
Daily Staff Reporter

Hard work, dedication and a common desire to help others are factors uniting the members of Circle K, a University community service group affiliated with the Kiwanis organization.

"They have done a nice job of giving back to the community," said Peter Schork, a member of the Downtown Ann Arbor Kiwanis club, who advises the University's Circle K group.

Circle K's members participate in a wide variety of projects throughout the year.

"They have a very active group," Schork said.

Some of their most recent projects have included cleaning the Ann Arbor Ronald McDonald House, sponsoring blood drives, visiting with sick children at Mott Children's Hospital and tutoring at Northside Elementary.

"We do all kinds of volunteer work," said LSA sophomore Shana Covel, who has been involved with the organization for two years.

The group's biggest project this year was an Iodine Deficiency Disorder Meal Sacrifice, said Circle K President Todd Brockdorf, an LSA first-year student.

Circle K asked students in various dorms to give up their dinner meal credit on Dec. 6, and in return, the Entrée Office donated the raw food costs to Circle K.

"It was very successful," Brockdorf said. "We won awards for this project at our district convention."

Their projects are wide-ranging and include many aimed specifically at children.

"We are in constant contact with organizations that have events for kids," Brockdorf said.

"We often help out at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum with whatever they need," Covel said. "At Halloween, we helped out with pumpkin carving."

Circle K's members say they derive a sense of fulfillment from their efforts.

"I like to help others -- it gives me a good feeling," Brockdorf said.

Covel expressed similar sentiments.

"I love it," Covel said. "It got me so involved in community service."

Currently, Circle K has 33 members, but they have hundreds of people they often contact for help, Covel said.

"I think they are doing extremely well," Schork said.

The group meets at 7 p.m. every Thursday night in the Michigan Union during the school year.

"Anyone is welcome at any time," Covel said. "We are always open to new members."

To generate interest among students, members present information about Circle K at Festifall and Winterfest tables.

"Next year we are going to try more active recruiting methods, like fliers and banners," Brockdorf said.

The University's Circle K group often works in conjunction with other Circle K groups at Michigan State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Adrian Universities.