Bells Rung and Summer Fun

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Created on Thursday, 21 March 2013 15:39

Written by Brian Stone

ST. JOHNSBURY - For 63 years The St. Johnsbury Kiwanis Club has been turning the sound of auction bells to splashing water and summer fun. Since 1950, the club has been holding their annual auction to raise money to support the swimming pool.

The pool, which has been a staple in the community since it was built, was originally created to give kids in town a safe environment to swim after a few accidental deaths of children swimming in the rivers. "The Kiwanis Club at the time being they were concerned about children decided that maybe the safer option would be to build a pool where we could provide lessons to teach the children how to swim" said St. Johnsbury Kiwanis President Brent Beck.

The pool not only provide open swim hours but free lessons to over 650 children each summer. without fundraisers like the auction, as well as raffles and running the concession stand at SJA Varsity games. Two years ago, when the club was $10,000 shy of the $55,000 budget for the pool the community response was over whelming. "The response was amazing the town of St. Johnsbury really stepped up and it was rewarding to see," added Beck.

For more on the St. Johnsbury Kiwanis, their projects, and fundraisers you can visit their website here.