In the community

Club fires up grill for chicken dinner on Thursday to benefit Ontario park

Bright red monkey bars, a yellow swing set and a big blue metal slide share space at Ontario’s Lanterman-Kiwanis Park with picnic tables under a shady pavilion and a soccer field. It’s one of two Kiwanis Club sponsored parks in Ontario.

Soon the park may sport new renovations such as walking paths, more trees, and even a volleyball net, according to Bob Komoto, secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Ontario.

The club is hosting its annual barbecue fundraiser from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, at Beck-Kiwanis Park on Northwest Eighth Avenue. Tickets are $14 and are available at Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce and Kinney & Keele True Value Hardware. All the proceeds will be focused towards renovating Lanterman-Kiwanis Park.

“Every neighborhood deserves a nice park,” said Sarah Ray, who serves on the Kiwanis board.

The fundraiser, which has been an annual tradition for decades, will be a drive-through dinner. Barbecue chicken, a baked potato, dinner rolls and coleslaw will be served.  

“We hand the meals to you in the car, and you can drive off. You don’t even have to stand in a hot line,” said Komoto. “And it’s the best barbecued chicken you will ever eat.”

The club has set a goal to raise $10,000. If they meet their goal, the city of Ontario will match the amount. The city gave the same promise to the Lions Club and Rotary Club for their own fundraisers. That means the city could see a total of $60,000 in renovations to local parks.

Other programs that Kiwanis Club helps support throughout the year are Boys and Girls Club of Western Treasure Valley and Treasure Valley Children’s Relief Nursery. They also give offer scholarships to Treasure Valley Community College students.

CORRECTION: The benefit dinner will be held Thursday, Aug. 18. Information provided to the Enterprise for an earlier version incorrectly said the dinner was on Friday.