Blog

Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 – Mtg Speaker and Mental Health donation assistance presentation

Abigail Tyner of the Troy Community Coalition for substance abuse awareness and prevention provided updates on action items in the community. FittFreddie Foundation (Cathi Hardy) supplied a donation check to help with the Kiwanis Inspired Teens Mental Health Financial Assistance Fund to help area teens with counseling sessions.

Monday, Feb 10, 2025 – Key Club Community Activity Divisional Rally

We joined Key Clubs from area high schools who participated in a community service project to help less fortunate and give hope to underserved youth and seniors. Troy High and IA East Key Clubs participated. They created bracelets to give away and made fleece blankets (via Fleece and Thank you) for children’s hospitals. Also created sleeping mats for the homeless and poor. So glad to see how our youth are stepping up to help those less fortunate!

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 – Meeting Speaker – Lindsay Drouillard – Therapy Ranch

Lindsay Drouillard of Therapy Ranch presented how her mental health organization is working with youth and others by using horses to provide a safe place for teens to explore their feelings. Located at the Stillwater Stables and Stays, this peaceful environment reduces the stress and anxiety of everyday turmoil for the clients. Therapy Ranch is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, located in the Detroit, Michigan area, specializing in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for groups and individuals. Check them out at https://www.therapyranch.org/ or visit them in Ortonville, Michigan.

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) are two types of Equine-Assisted Services (EAS). EAP sessions offer a unique approach and insights into your healing process by combining the therapeutic power of horses and nature with the guidance of a mental health professional and certified equine specialists. EAL sessions address problematic behavioral and social patterns and develop skills for changing them.

The entire EAP and EAL process takes place on the ground since the horses are positioned as equal partners in care. They remain unsaddled, which allows them to move around freely.

Reach out to Lindsay at info@therapyranch,org or 313-269-2174.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 – Meeting Speaker – Bruce Goldberg of Rivers Bend PC

At our December monthly meeting, we heard from Bruce Goldberg – President of Rivers Bend PC about how they are working with the community to spread the word about mental health support. Rivers Bend PC Adolescent IOP Program treats substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders within a safe, compassionate, and educational environment. A teen can expect a warm and welcoming environment where they can feel safe expressing themselves. They offer individual and family therapy sessions that can coincide with the group therapy sessions. For more information – contact Troy location 248-585-3239 / W Bloomfield location 248-702-6132 or www.riversbendpc.com. River’s Bend is a full-service outpatient clinic that has been serving children, adolescent and adults for over 25 years.

Friday, November 22, 2024 Key Club & Kiwanis Fleece Blanket Making Event

On November 22, three high school Key Clubs (Troy High, Troy Athens, and IA East) came together to make fleece blankets for area nonprofits – Judson Center Royal Oak and Far Therapeutic Arts and Recreation (Birmingham). Over 60 students and Troy Kiwanis members joined forces to create joy for underserved children in the community. These blankets were presented to these charities to use for their children to help make Christmas a little brighter.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 Key Club “Virtual” Career Night

We are excited to present a “virtual” night for students to learn more about professions through our local professional community. From 7 pm – 8:30 pm we will be hosting a key note speaker and a variety of professionals speaking in 30 minute tracts. They will introduce students to their career path and entertain questions and answers. This virtual event is open to all students regardless of high school affiliation. Parents are also encouraged to attend to ask questions. For more information reach out to [email protected]. Virtual zoom call will be provided closer to the date.

June 27, 2024 Judson Center Outside Improvements

We were excited to help Judson Center in Royal Oak out with planting flowers and cleaning windows. Judson Center relies on volunteers to help their programs and improve the lives of their clients. Check them out at https://www.judsoncenter.org/. With over 100 years of services to the community, we were privileged to help them in this small improvement.

September 2023 Dine Out For Charity at Sedona Taphouse

Not only is September Suicide Prevention and Awareness month, but it is also our Dine Out for Charity month at Sedona Taphouse. Please dine with us every Monday in September for some great value menu items and to support our efforts in the community with assisting youth with mental health events. Enjoy 50% off a great meal at Sedona Taphouse while doing your part for charity.

For every HALF PRICE 8 oz. Black Angus Flat Iron Steak or 7 oz. Grilled Salmon entrée sold, Sedona Taphouse will donate $1 to our organization!

Fine Print: You must dine in on a Monday and purchase a beverage, and the promotion is limited to one entrée per person. You can’t beat that!

Photo Ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Troy Historic Village

Over eighteen families with children came out for photo ops with Santa and Mrs Claus on Dec 4 at the Troy Historic Village. They participated in many activities along with hot cocoa for the children and visiting the Village. The club is fortunate to sponsor these children and give them Christmas cheer.

November donation drive for HAVEN of Pontiac

IA East and Troy Athens collected gifts for give away to HAVEN children during the month of November. These gifts are extremely important to children of domestic abuse parents and sexual assault victims.

UPDATE: Nov 29 Youth Mental Health & Wellness Fair

Over 60 students attended the Youth Mental Health and Wellness Fair at Troy Athens. Dr. Stacey Francis of Specific Wellness Clinics talked about how food affects your mental health and what foods you should incorporate into your daily routine to help alleviate mental health issues.

Explore Yoga provided yoga exercises designed to help reduce stress and anxiety. Troy Rec Center provided zumba sesions to help alleviate stress and get the body moving.

Watch for our Spring mental health sessions and how you can become involved with Kiwanis Club of Troy.

UPDATE: Sept. 15 Youth Suicide Awareness with Clawson/Troy Schools

Over 150 students and parents joined us to hear from five speakers on how to assist youth thinking about suicide. Great insight and tips with hotlines (text 741741 or call/text 988) for support and assistance were shared. Clawson School Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger and Troy School Superintendent Dr. Rich Machesky opened the evening with thoughts on why this event is so important. Judge Kirsten Hartig moderated the panel of parents, sisters, suicide survivor and suicidologist who shared their insights, experiences and knowledge. NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) Michigan Executive Director – Kevin Fischer shared how NAMI can be a guide to obtain help.

Next mental health eventHealth and Wellness Fair will be held Nov. 29 at Troy Athens High School.

September 15 – Teen Suicide Prevention Program Event

We are excited to coordinate a suicide awareness event this fall at Troy Athens High school from 7 pm – 9 pm that will involve all Troy and Clawson high school students – parents – and facilitators. This 2 hour event will include professional counselors, suicide survivors and parents/families affected by suicide and depression. Come and learn how to detect signs of suicide. Sign up with the following link to save your spot: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XBYGPW7. Recommend signing up to give us an attendance estimate, but all are still welcome at the door that night.

Speakers include : Gigi Colombini – Suicidologist; JoJo Klingler – mother of suicide loss; Elise Boyd – Suicide survivor; Dr. Hashti Raveau – sister of suicide loss; Kevin Fischer – NAMI MI Executive Director

Troy Community Foundation Endowment Award

Troy Kiwanis Club was awarded a $5000 TCF Endowment based on the public voting on May 19th. This endowment will allow the Troy Kiwanis Club to fund activities and events that help children in our community. We want to thank the Troy Community Foundation for this opportunity and look forward to helping more children throughout the year!!

Winners of the the 3 TCF Endowmentsawarded on May 19. Kirsten Hartig (far right) represented the TROY Kiwanis Club.

Why become a member?

As a Kiwanian, you will meet professionals from various industries that have a common goal – helping children and their community. We are always looking for new members to help us reach out to those children and youth needing a helping hand. Various new events are being planned so help us reach those new goals by attending one of our meetings.

Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 12 pm EST. We hold our meetings at Firecird Tavern 4845 Rochester Rd in Troy, MI.

Past guest speakers have included professionals from various backgrounds. Each one has brought a different perspective on how kids and families are impacted through the interaction with their organizations.

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