What we do
The Kiwanis mission
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
The Kiwanis motto
Serving the children of the world
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
The Kiwanis vision
Kiwanis will be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.
Kiwanis will be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.
The Kiwanis motto
Serving the children of the world
The Kiwanis objects
- To give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life.
- To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
- To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business and professional standards.
- To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship.
- To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build better communities.
- To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.
Kiwanis Christmas Parade
The Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade has become a family tradition for many families. The parade began in 1970 and has rolled through the twin cities every year except one, 2020. It is always a great family friendly experience with lots of floats and throws. The parade is always the first Saturday in December, so you can make plans every year well in advance. We hope to see you at the parade!
For more information on the parade:
Jonathan Booth
Phone #: (985) 397-0719
Email: kiwanisgreaterouachita@gmail.com or wmchristmasparade@gmail.com
For more information on the parade:
Jonathan Booth
Phone #: (985) 397-0719
Email: kiwanisgreaterouachita@gmail.com or wmchristmasparade@gmail.com
Bikes for Books Summer Reading Program
Every year we partner with the Ouachita Parish Public Library and give away ten free bikes at the end of the summer. It is part of their Summer Reading Program. The ten bikes is equal to the number of branches in Ouachita Parish. Any child age 12 and under has a chance to win a bike. All a child must do is register at his/her local library for the Summer Reading Program and complete the challenges. He/she is then entered in a drawing at the end of the summer for a chance to win a bike. Good Luck!
KIWANIS CHRISTMAS DAY "MEALS ON WHEELS"
The Monroe Kiwanis Club—now known as the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ouachita—launched its Christmas Day Meals on Wheels project in December 1973 with a simple but meaningful goal: to ensure that participants served by the Ouachita Council on Aging would receive a hot meal on Christmas Day, especially those who would otherwise be alone or unable to cook for themselves. The first meals were prepared at the Holiday Inn/Winsor Inn on Louisville Avenue, assembled by Kiwanis members, and delivered directly to Meals on Wheels participants.
Over the years, the project evolved to meet growing community needs. From 1974 to 1978, meals were prepared in Kiwanis members’ homes, but as participation increased, operations moved in 1979 to First Methodist Church on Loop Road. Around 1990, Brookshire’s Grocery became a valued partner, helping sustain the program as it expanded. The highest number of meals served in a single Christmas was 217 in 2016, while the lowest was 82 in 2025. No meals were delivered in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 1998 through 2025, the Kiwanis Club has delivered a total of 3,911 Christmas Day meals, averaging 145 meals each year—a lasting tradition of service, compassion, and community care.
MedCamps of Louisiana
Kiwanis Club of Greater Ouachita proudly partners with MedCamps every year. We sponsor meals, campers, and serve dinner to the campers. It is a good time every year at Camp Alabama!
KEDM: Give The Joy Of Learning!
"Give the Joy of Learning" is a program that was started in 2016 by KEDM. It has continued to grow and this past year over 1,000 books were delivered to second grades in 18 schools in Northeast Louisiana. Kiwanis Club is excited to partner with KEDM year after year on this project.
Salvation Army
We enjoy giving back to Salvation Army in a couple of ways. At Christmas time, the Salvation Army takes on a long list of kids for their Angel Tree. We enjoy doing some shopping for some of those kids each year. Also, another endless need for the Salvation Army is for Bell Ringers. We make sure to set aside some time each year to ring the bell for our local Salvation Army.