Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis presented with Spirit of America Award

DEXTER — On behalf of the citizens of Dexter, the Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis has been presented with the community’s 2021 Spirit of America Award. The honor was bestowed during a June 10 town council meeting.

The Spirit of America Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity established in Augusta to encourage volunteerism. Since the first Spirit of America Award was presented to Alma Jones by Augusta’s mayor in 1991, over 500 Spirit of America ceremonies have taken place.

Town Manager Trampas King began the evening by calling Dexter Kiwanis President Marcy King and members Ron Apel and Rich Pfirman forward. “They like us to point out people who do a lot of stuff for the community, without asking for anything,” he said about officials with the Spirit of America Foundation. 

“I’ve been wanting to do the Kiwanis for a long time and last year we did Crystal Greaves and we had Rick Whitney,” King said about recent honorees.

Reading a resolution, he said the Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis was established in 1979 and “since its inception it has supported countless efforts to support our community. There have been many members come and go and sadly pass along while others have stayed the course.

“The Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis Club helps young children of our community by promoting programs that promote safety, security and positive behaviors. Some of these programs and sponsorships include the annual Bike Rodeo where children are provided proper bike riding safety guidelines and free bicycle helmets. The club sponsors the elementary school’s annual Grandparents Day and backpack program, a bi-weekly food distribution to families in need during the school year.

“The annual Hooked on Fishing program teaches kids a safe and productive activity as an alternative to hanging out on the streets and conducting less than desirable behaviors and lastly our soon to be expanded reading program for elementary level children where the children receive free books, our encouraged to read, live readings are conducted and exchange libraries are installed throughout the community.”

King said the Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis plays an integral role in the community, including preparing Christmas food boxes to provide families in need with a complete holiday meal and adopting families so the children can have wrapped gifts under the tree.

“The club owns and operates a thrift store in town that serves people from multiple communities, in person and online with clothing, books, household items and more,” he said. 

The town manager said the Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis conducts annual fundraisers to encourage community involvement, including a summer cruise-in that “draws cars and spectators from all over the state, providing unique, handcrafted trophies for the top class,” and a golf scramble.

King said these events are “held in order to continue to serve the community in the current capacity and beyond.”

In other business, King said he has spoken to Boy Scouts about developing a walking trail at Ellms Field near the golf course. One Scout would create the trailheads as his Eagle Scout Service Project and the rest of the troop would work on the trail, which would be open year-round

“We’re trying to make it a mile, I want to make it a loop,” King said. He said the path would be four feet wide and would incorporate existing trails at the site. Businesses would also donate materials and labor.

“This is a project for them. We’re looking for a trail and now we have people to do it,” the town manager said. “We don’t have any walking trails in town.”

Members of the Boy Scout troop will likely speak about the trail project during next month’s council meeting.