City Times Staff

STEVENS POINT — On Tuesday, Feb. 5, the Kiwanis Club of Stevens Point met at the Stevens Point Country Club to celebrate and recognize a local 6^th grader, Johanna Rentfrow.

Rentfrow received this honor as part of the club’s Making a Difference Award – a program that recognizes and presents awards to one deserving sixth grade student from each of eleven area public and private elementary/middle schools every school year.

Rentfrow was selected by her teachers, Mrs. Radke, and Ken Jensen of Plover-Whiting School.

“Johanna gives 110% in all that she does! She demonstrates leadership skills, strong school involvement, and a true care for others by helping other students in our school as a member of various clubs,” said Jensen. “Outside of school, her kind heart continues to shine in the many ways that she helps others in our community. She has held several lemonade stands at summer garage sales to raise money for the Humane Society of Portage County.

She has even passed on birthday gifts for herself- asking instead for donations to Operation Bootstrap. Johanna can be counted on to be a positive role model and caring leader for those around her.”

The Kiwanis Club of Stevens Point was organized in 1923 and is one of the oldest in the state of Wisconsin. Members are active in the community by being involved in the Make a Difference Award as well as the following programs:

• Kiwanis Kare Kits – a giving project that provides hygiene kits to at-need students within the Stevens Point Area Public School District. The kits include essential personal hygiene items that are distributed by school counselors and social workers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
• Nonperishable Food Collection – Each holiday season, members bring nonperishable foods to the noon lunch meetings. Donated items are given to Operation Bootstrap to help feed area families.
• Bell-ringing for the Salvation Army – Each year, club members volunteer to ring bells for the Salvation Army at various Stevens Point locations.
• Green Circle Trail – Our club keeps the Green Circle from Chase Bank to Bukolt Park litter-free. Members sign up each spring for weekly walk-throughs of this section.

For more information regarding the Kiwanis Club of Stevens Point, visit the website at: www.stevenspointkiwanis.org or like us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Kiwanis.Club.of.Stevens.Point/