The Queens Kiwanis family is looking to grow into Ridgewood.
Kiwanis Queens West Lieutenant Governor JP Di Troia held a special membership roundup and outreach meeting Thursday night to spread the word about a Kiwanis club potentially coming to Ridgewood at the TD Bank branch located on Fresh Pond Road.
“The Kiwanis is a great vehicle for individuals to get involved with the community,” Di Troia said. “Events like this have helped build the Middle Village and Forest Hills clubs. They are great networking opportunities as well.”
Currently, the fledgling Ridgewood Kiwanis Club has five members and is looking to expand. They are seeking members of the community that want to make a difference.
“We need members, but more importantly we need members that participate and are involved in the community,” said Dorothy Lancaster, member of the Board of Directors of the Middle Village Kiwanis Club.
The first charter member of the Ridgewood Kiwanis Club, Yogeshwar Wadhawan, joined because he was interested in helping his community and felt the Kiwanis would give him the chance to give back.
“I joined because I want to give something back to society. I have time now, I’m retired, and I wanted to give back,” Wadhawan said. “I want to help kids and veterans. The reason for joining is more important to me than being the first member in Ridgewood. It is also a good way for me to keep busy, but now it’s a different reason to stay busy. Now that I’m not working for money, I want the inner peace and satisfaction of helping people.”
For more information about becoming a Kiwanis member, watch this video.
