Bowling Green K-Kids Have a K-Family Meeting with a Special Guest

The K-Kids recently held a special after-school meeting so that the older students in the Builders Club, Clarke Key Club, Key Club and the Adelphi University Circle K could join them to hear a presentation by special guest Ellen Fernando. 

Fernando is an Operation Smile volunteer nurse who has participated in cleft palate reconstructive surgery missions in Egypt, Mexico, India and most recently Bolivia. Fernando has also served on the USS Mercy and has plans to be part of a humanitarian aid mission on board the USS Comfort. She is also the aunt of K-Kids member Justin Infante and Clarke Builders Clubber Katie Infante.

Following the usual formalities, K-Kids President Devon asked Justin and Katie to introduce their Aunt Ellen. Fernando explained a little about Operation Smile and what cleft palate is using a PowerPoint presentation.  She also showed a video compilation of the four Operation Smile missions she has participated in to date.

The K-Kids, Builders Clubbers, Key Clubbers and Circle K'ers were all inspired by Fernando’s words and photos.  While not usually collected at their regular meetings, the K-Kids held a special collection of “Happy Change” for Operation Smile.  The total exceeded $180.

When added to the $60 that the K-Kids had previously allocated toward Operation Smile, enough money has already been raised to fund a cleft palate surgery for one child.

The K-Kids and their older K-Family guests were not nearly satisfied by funding surgery for just one child. Prior to adjourning the special meeting, the group discussed fundraising ideas to raise additional money for Operation Smile. Plans are currently in the works to hold a K-Family restaurant fundraiser at California Pizza Kitchen.