Recent Activities:

T

he club’s golf outing was held on Sunday, August. 25, 2024, at Ridgeview Golf Course, 10360 W Main St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Shotgun start was at 9:00 a.m. EDT. This event raised money for the Bronson Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic and Optimist International Foundation’s Childhood Cancer Campaign.

BOCK members attended the Michigan District Conference: The Fourth Quarter Michigan District Conference was on Friday, August 16, and Saturday, August 17, 2024. It was at the Kensington Hotel in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

During June and July, the club had fundraisers for the Back-To-School Program. The goal is to help kids in grades K – 12 begin school this fall with the Right Start. The Right Start event provides the opportunity for kids with trauma experiences and kids without adequate resources to shop for a “first day of school” outfit of their choice, allowing them to begin the school year with a boost to their confidence. The club is again teaming up with Family & Children Services to identify those kids most in need of beginning the school year with the Right Start. Family & Children Services programs are designed to provide the right support at the right time for families and individuals who need resources. The fundraisers consisted of Trivia Night and a direct appeal to club members and their friends. The total funds raised this year was $6,076. These funds are being used to send 50 kids back to school.

On Friday, July 19, 2024, the club had a Trivia Night at the Portage Zhang Senior Center, 203 E Centre Ave, Portage, MI 49002. This event raised $1,594 for the club’s annual Back-To-School program.

On Friday, June 7, 2024, about 50 club members and friends attended the Kalamazoo Growlers baseball game against the Kokomo Jackrabbits. The Growlers have a program to honor non-profit/charity organizations. We had an information table, and one of our members threw out the first pitch. At various times throughout the night, the announcer provided information about BOCK’s community impact. Then some of our members – along with some JOI club members – ran up and down the bleachers collecting donations during the Miracle Minute. We collected $400. 

From March through May 2024, the club assisted a second-grade teacher at the Comstock Elementary School. Examples of the assistance the club provided included reading to the students, providing water bottles and snacks, and being chaperons for a field trip to the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

On Saturday, May 18, 2024, club members cheered the participants in the Girls on the Run annual 5K. BOCK is one of the Local 5K sponsors, https://www.girlsontherunkazoo.org/5k.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the club participated in PowerUp. About 20 club members worked as assembly lines placing food items in bags. These bags of food items are then delivered to local Portage schools on Friday to help children with food insecurities get through the weekend. Link to information about Power Up: https://www.radiant.church/powerup.

During March and April 2024 BOCK has its annual Daisy Dollars fundraiser. BOCK sold swipe cards for purchases at Schuring’s Retail Greenhouse, 610 Schuring Road, Portage, MI 49024. For every $10 worth of Daisy Dollars swipe cards BOCK sold the club earned 25% or $2.50. The club earned $500.

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, the club assisted with children’s activities at the Children’s Nature Playscape on Bronson Park which is dedicated to transforming a reclaimed green space into a nature park for the children of Kalamazoo, https://www.kalamazooplayscape.org/home.

On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, the club participated in PowerUp. About 20 club members worked as assembly lines placing food items in bags. These bags of food items are then delivered to local Portage schools on Friday to help children with food insecurities get through the weekend. Link to information about Power Up: https://www.radiant.church/powerup.

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 7 p.m. BOCK held its Oratorical Contest: It took place at at the Portage Public Safety Complex, 7810 Shaver Road, Portage, MI 49002.

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, BOCK participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters, BBBS, fundraiser Bowl For Kids’ Sake at Revel & Roll West on Stadium Drive. BOCK had two bowling teams. Teams of 5 or 6 people pledge to raise a minimum of $75 each (or $375 per 5-person team, or $450 per 6-person team) to participate. BBBS website with details: https://thinkbigtoday.org/events/bowl-for-kids-sake.

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the club participated in PowerUp. About 20 club members worked as assembly lines placing food items in bags. These bags of food items are then delivered to local Portage schools on Friday to help children with food insecurities get through the weekend.

On Thursday, December 7, 2023, the regular get-together was at 5:30 p.m. at Travelers Cafe & Pub, 5225 Portage Rd, Portage. The club wrapped presents for the folks we adopted this year for Christmas.

On Sunday, November 26, 2023, the club decorated a Christmas Tree in Celery Flats. The theme is “A Little Piece of Me!” 

On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, the club packaged weekend food items for needy kids as part of the PowerUp program. Link to PowerUp, https://www.radiant.church/powerup

On Saturday, October 21, 2023, the club participated in the 10th Annual Trunk or Treat event for youth and adults with developmental/intellectual disabilities. It was sponsored by the Great Lakes Center of Autism Treatment and Research at 9616 Portage Rd. 

Another event on Saturday, October 21, 2023, that the club participated in was the Monster Mash which was sponsored by the city of Portage and is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Ramona Park, 8600 Sprinkle Road. 

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., the club partnered with the Portage Department of Public Safety, and the City of Portage Youth Advisory Committee to host an annual free event, Respect for Law, at Ramona Park, 8600 South Sprinkle Road.