Imagine School of Lakewood Ranch launches K-Kids Club

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Nearly every child who walks through the halls of Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch has developed an attachment to a favorite toy or stuffed animal at some point in their young lives.

It might be a book, a blanket or a teddy bear that provides a sense of comfort. But what happens when a child faces a difficult situation without their favorite thing?

That’s where the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office comes in. And now, with the help of Imagine’s new K-Kids Club, the Sheriff’s Office will have even more stuffed animals to keep on-hand in case of an emergency.

Earlier this month, nearly 20 students in Imagine’s K-Kids Club, a service club for elementary school children under the Kiwanis umbrella, collected two bins of stuffed animals for the Sheriff’s Office as part of its first service project.

The students then presented the animals a deputy, who talked to the children about the animals and why they keep them in the trunks of their cruisers.

“It helps them understand that if they ever have an emergency, such as should their house burn down, (what happens),” Kiwanis Club of Lakewood Ranch member Julie Aranibar said. “It’s kind of a good explanation for these kids to understand what could happen in an emergency for them.”

The K-Kids formed last month at Imagine; and after meeting with advisers Brianna Caputo and Lindsey Johnson, the students set up their bylaws and began putting together a list of service project ideas.

“The main goal of K-Kids at ISLWR is to create young leaders who will develop a desire to continue to help their community,” Caputo said. “We hope that, even at their young age, they understand that there are ways that they can impact and help those around them.”

Aranibar agreed.

“It’s part of their mission,” Aranibar said. “When you’re raising and educating children, and when they have an awareness of their community and their surroundings, they grow to be part of the community. They understand how the community works. It really broadens all of your horizons.

“They feel empowered because they are learning even at their age that they are making a difference and making their world a better place,” she said. “It’s the process of learning leadership through service to others.”

The club meets biweekly after school from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The students now are in the process of organizing their next service project, which will be collecting items for Honor Animal Rescue.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].